Itea Little Henry®

Shrubs that have features in more than one season as great garden additions, especially in a smaller garden, or for mass planting in larger ones. Itea is an attractive native plant that has fragrant white flowers in summer that attract butterflies. In fall the leaves turn strong colors. The Little Henry® Itea is a dwarf form of this plant with more flowers, improved fall color and a size that is better suited to smaller gardens or mass planting. Once established this plant will grow well in ordinary garden soil, and it will even tolerate moderate drought. It will grow in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade,

Growing the Little Henry® Itea

Size and Appearance

The Little Henry® Itea is a deciduous shrub that grows just 2 or 3 feet tall, and the same size across. It is a big improvement over the wild bush, not only for its compact size, but also for its abundant flowering and especially for its spectacular fall coloring. In fall this green shrub turns into a riot of orange and red that rivals even garden favorites like burning bush. In summer, sweetly scented pure white flowers grow. Each flower is less than half-an-inch across, but the individual flowers are clustered together in narrow cylinders 3 or 4 inches long, that shoot from the plant in all directions like a firework display. These flowers attract butterflies, bringing a wonderful collection of these charming insects to your garden and delighting all small children.

Using the Little Henry® Itea in Your Garden

This dwarf shrub makes the perfect addition to a shrub bed, among other smaller shrubs, or in front of larger ones, and it is also a perfect choice for mass planting on a bank or along a stream. Space 18 inches to 2 feet apart. This plant grows naturally in wet soil, so if you have low-lying wet areas, a stream or a pond, this is a perfect choice for those kinds of areas.

Hardiness

As a native plant of the southeast, this plant is well-adapted to the heat and humidity of warm zones, and it also grows well in areas as far north as zone 5.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Plant your Little Henry Itea bushes in a sunny or shady location. They will grow well in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade. The fall coloring will be strongest on plants in the sun. As for soil, it will grow in all kinds of soil, from wet to dry, but plants will be their most vigorous in soil with plenty of moisture.

Maintenance and Pruning

No trimming is required to keep this plant small and bushy, but it may benefit from the occasional removal of old branches. These should be cut at ground level, to encourage new shoots to develop, keeping your plants thick and lush. To use this plant as a ground-cover on banks or in hollows, space the plants 2 feet apart in an irregular way. New growth will often emerge from the roots to make your cover thick and dense. This plant has no serious pests or diseases and it is usually not eaten in the winter by deer.

History and Origin of the Little Henry® Itea

Itea, named after it’s botanical name, Itea virginica, should more correctly as Cyrilla racemiflora, but that name has not been accepted much by nurseries. It is an American native shrub that grows wild across eastern North America, from southern Virginia through the south into Florida, and west into Texas. The plant has oval leaves with fine serrations along the edges, which look a little like willow leaves, and it is often seen in a larger form, ‘Henry’s Garnet’. The variety trademarked as Little Henry was discovered by chance as an unusual branch on the taller variety ‘Meadowlark’. It was found in 1998 by Richard Feist, in Burlington, Kentucky, and patented.

Buying the Little Henry® Itea at the Tree Center

Little Henry Itea is an excellent garden plant that can find a home in any garden, bringing summer flowers and fall brilliance. We guarantee that our plants are the correct dwarf variety, and we know that this plant is in high demand, for its beauty and ease of growth. To avoid disappointment, order now while stocks last.