Itea virginica 'Merlot'
'Merlot' is a compact cultivar of Itea virginica or sweetspire with fragrant white flowers in summer and great fall colour and red winter stems.
Description:
Itea virginica or Virginia sweetspire is a little-known shrub that is well worth growing. Its upright stems are clothed in nice mid green leaves and, in summer, descending spikes of white, sweetly fragrant flowers popular with butterflies and beneficial insects. In fall the leaves turn brilliant shades of wine red and crimson and the stems turn to red for the winter. 'Merlot' is a compact cultivar growing to 3-4 feet tall and wide with great fall colour. A nice shrub for the mixed border or use as a hedge. Tolerant of wet and clay soils.
Common Name: Virginia Sweetspire
Family: Iteaceae (The Sweetspire Family)
Zone Hardiness: 5-9
Light: Full Sun, Part Sun
Height: 2-4'
Width: 3-5'
Primary Bloom Colour: White/Cream
Secondary Bloom Colour:
Class: Deciduous
Type: Shrub
Bloom Time: Summer
Soil Moisture: Average, Moist, Wet
Stem Colour: Red
Fragrance: Yes
Berries:
Benefits: Butterflies
Deer Resistant: Yes
BC Native: No
Native Habitat: Swamps, wet woods, stream banks, and beaver ponds at low elevations in the eastern US.
Award:
Geogrpahical Origin: Americas - North America
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*The Plant Encyclopedia is updated each year to provide a representation of the plants we offer, have offered, and may offer again. However, it is not a live inventory of our stock. Not all plants will be available at all times or in every year. Use the link above to enquire about the availability of this plant. Additionally, we carry many plants that have not yet been entered into our database so please enquire if you don’t see what you’re looking for. Plants are available only for on-site sales at our nursery in Richmond, BC, Canada or for shipping within Canada. We do not ship internationally. However, if you are visiting the nursery from afar, we can arrange for the necessary permits and paperwork for you to take plants back with you to your country.