Japanese sweetspire
Itea ilicifolia
RHS AGM 1993
USDA zones7 to 9
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterNeeds moderate soil
Size10 to 15 feet tall10 to 15 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Bloom color
- Greenish-cream
Garden uses
Notes
Japanese sweetspire (Itea ilicifolia) is an evergreen shrub for hedges. It is hardy to USDA zone 7, or down to 0°F (-18°C). This plant likes full or part sun and average moisture. Greenish-cream flowers open in mid to late summer and have a fragrance. The shrub can reach 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, so give it room to grow.
Pairs well with Wax myrtle, Texas mountain laurel, and Society garlic.
Native range
Asia.