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I WANT THIS PLANT. The Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’ is undeniably prettier than the ‘Henry’s Garnet’ I’ve been growing for so long, at least in the fall foliage department. And the stars are clearly aligning for me to have it.
First there was Jeanette Ankoma-Sey, an actual horticulturist and garden designer who visited my garden recently, which prompted me to take shameless advantage of her by asking for plant recommendations for a part-sun border that got a lot wider after I got rid of the back-yard lawn. We’d met when she attended the talk I gave to DC’s EcoWomen last summer. Little did I know she has a hort degree and works for the largest design company in the U.S. (I’m pretty sure) - EDAW.
So, I tell her I want to fill the border with shrubs; what does she recommend? Itea and fothergilla. YES! But which ones?
Then a week later I ran into a writer-gardener who invited me to see her ‘Little Henry’ in its fall glory and voila – I’m sold. Now I just have to find a few. Oh yeah, I’m massing ‘em, baby!
Here’s my page about Itea virginica, with a photo of ‘Henry’s Garnet’ flowering.
Thanks to Alison Gillespie for showing me her ‘Little Henry’.
{ 9 comments }
I have 7 ‘Little Henry’ and I love those little fellas!
The blooms in late spring/early summer are pretty and the fall color is RED!
Design advice — put amsonia hubrichtii with this little guy. I’ve got a few more days before this combo peaks here in North Carolina.
Cameron
They are very pretty little shrubs. I wish I’d gotten a few last year when we had them at the nursery where I work. They didn’t sell them this year. Maybe next year!
Zounds. hat is truly spectacular fall color. I’ve never heard of this plant–do you think it’s an eastern thing, or have I had blinders on?
Susan: Yes, Itea is super-popular in the East where it’s native, and I have no idea if it’ll do well in your neck of the woods (TX).
While we use ‘Little Henry’ at the Scott Arboretum, our favorite is Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’. Its arching steams currently have fabulous garnet fall color. The red color looks great planted next to the yellow of Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice.
Another interesting tidbit is ‘Henry’s Garnet’ was named and introduced by the Scott staff in 1984. It has exceptional fall color lasting from October into December reflecting the Swarthmore College school color of garnet.
This cultivar also received Gold Medal Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1988 for its outstanding qualities.
http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/2008/05/graduation-traditions/
It is a beauty not to mention that winterberry lurking in the background. I don’t have Itea here but it is a great fall color.
Hi Susan, Itea is a beauty and so is fothergilla! The fall color of both is fantastic! Itea can colonize if happy, so folks may have to keep it in check!
such a pretty plant. i just how it adds a vibrant color (in this case red) to any garden or yard.
-jack
bonus – the beautiful autumn branches cut nicely and hold their leaves at least a week. i just cut my second batch of the fall and mixed them w/ grocery store chrysanthemums – arrangements look very rich & we’re ready for Thanksgiving.
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