I couldn't pass up this Itea virginica "Henry's Garnet" at a 5&10 store for only six bucks, but I don't know anything about these. What conditions will it like in zone8? Also the pot (3gal) seems to be undersized for it so I'm assuming it is probably a little root bound. Should I just leave it until fall and then break up the roots and plant it, or do it now?
I can't advise you on the plant itself since I don't grow these, but if you think it's rootbound I personally think the best choice would pot it up to the next larger size container and then plant it in the ground in the fall. That may be more work than you want to do though! If it's only slightly rootbound you may be able to get it through until fall in the pot it's in as long as you keep an eye on watering since rootbound plants may need to be watered more frequently. I'm a big advocate of not planting things in the middle of the summer heat, so planting it now would be my last choice out of all the options you have available.
I would think you could do full sun even in zone 8 (for best flowering and fall color surely) as long as there's adequate moisture. They'll do ok in regular garden soil, but they really like a little damp. Prefer an acidic ph and will get a little chloritic if it's not.
Plant it now if you have wet soil--you will find that it suckers profusely, so you may find "roots with leaves" as you break up the rootball. Spread those out. Acid soil for sure, and it is the king of chlorosis here, even in containers in the nursery. I have to work hard on them to keep them green!
Kevin it's funny you say that, it actually had a sucker coming out of one of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. But when I pulled it out to check the roots I had to break it off to be able to remove it from the pot. The low lying area that I want to put it is typically wet, but this year has been strangely dry. I'm hoping it will spread out because I am trying to downsize my lawn area. As far as the soil issue, all of the soil down here is naturally acidic.
Virginia sweetspire makes a great "downspout" plant, and with your acidic soils it ought to just dance for you.
Put some of the divisions (you'll have when you break up the knottedness) in a spot like that, and see how they do. This is another plant that you can make more of for next to nothing (layered; stick dormant wood into wet soil; stick summer cuttings into wet soil; divisions).
This is my very favorite shrub!! Yes, mine is a little chlorotic, but that looks great next to the ninebark and doesn't seem to affect the flowering or growth one bit. It is also sited in the hot,dry west-facing front flower bed, but it is near the downspout, and it does tend to sucker. The flowers are so fragrant, and the leaves hang on well into winter.
I reported in a recent thread total frustration with this plant. It NEVER looked good. It ALWAYS looked bad. Chlorotic, weak, poor flowering, disappointing fall color. The gamut. I finally cut it to the ground and planted other stuff. Well, up came the Itea from the roots, and it finally looks like it's supposed to look. No sign of chlorosis. Good color. Still not much flowering, but maybe next year.
Scott
Scott what happened to the "other stuff"? I always figure that if a plant is cut to the ground and grows back that I shouldn't have planted it in the first place. IE invasive. the other criteria I have is if I can propagate it any time from divisions I shouldn't have planted it.
Everything grows back after being cut down around here, except pine trees.
Sofi,
Here's the story on the "other stuff." So I cut back the Itea and I planted a very small Clethra alnifolia "Fern Valley Pink." Late last fall, the Itea was already starting to re-appear, so I grabbed my string trimmer and slaughtered it. Unfortunately, in doing so, I got a little careless and weed-whipped my "Fern Valley Pink" down to a nubbin also. Luckily, it too is making a comeback and I have yet to decide whether to keep the Itea or the Clethra. Chances are I'll probably move the Clethra, but I'm not fully decided.
I am liberal about using my string trimmer in the garden, just as I am about using Roundup. They save so much time. Each year, however, I do lose plants as a result.
Scott
I had three of these in Kentucky, (Zone 6) planted in almost solid clay and gravel, under my guest room window, in almost complete shade. They were full and bushy, and did not get above 5 ft. high (probably from lack of sun), but they had beautiful white blooms in late spring, and the foliage turned red in the fall.
They put out suckers, which I pulled up and planted throughout our wooded lot and passed along to friends. All of these children did well, and were planted mostly in clay, and in at least part shade.
I live in New Bern, NC now, (Zone 8) and I have just purchased three of these, at $10 ea, from Sunlight Gardens in Tennessee (www.sunlightgardens.com). They arrived yesterday, in great shape, and I put them in the ground immediately. Planted one in shade, one in sun, and the other in 1/2 & 1/2.
I hope they grow, because they are a favorite for me!
Entlie
Scott Oh, ewe, ouch, darn, that was dumb, Oh well life goes on.
Yes. A few choice words were bellowed.
Scott
I was going to say, and Decapitate said it far better already: if you don't have good luck with Itea where you have wet soils, try Clethra!
I would vote for 'Ruby Spice', however, if you want a lasting pink color. Of the five different pink summersweet clones I have, it's the only one that holds the pink color well. All the rest fade white pretty quickly. This is in FULL SUN; I don't know if they perform differently/better in shade.
Summersweet is another shrub that propagates pretty easily by rooting cuttings or by division; it will colonize over time (faster in wetter sandier soils).
Interesting notes about cholorisis on this plant. Mine have been growing here for more than 10 years and never had a sign of cholorisis, and flower well each year. So, I guess my soils are acidic enough(between pH5.5 to 6.7). Also, mine are decidedly partly evergreen. Depending on the winter they hold between 2/3 to 1/4 of their leaves, although they all turn a nice purple to dark red. Mine are also only about 5 1/2' tall, but they do greatly increase in width via suckers! I cut and dig them back every few years to keep the bushes from spreading wider than I'd like. So, I'd guess in my experiences this shrub has been tough as nails and can take just about any abuse you want to throw at it(or not throw at it).
Also, funny that Scott planted a pink Clethra in place of his Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet', since that's exactly what I have planted right next to mine. I think they compliment each other quite well.
I planted mine along with Clethra 'Chattanooga'(which is exceptionally floriferous, by the way), and Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite'.
Kneevin, it must be nice to have ample water to irrigate such stuff through our Illinois droughts! I'm still envious.
Guy S.
