Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Itea virginica

Virginia Sweetspire · Virginia-tea · Virginia-willow

Family IteaceaeGenus Itea

Arching white bottlebrush spikes of tiny flowers above bright green leaves, over bark mulch
FlowerUser:SB_JohnnyCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
4-8 ft1.2-2.4 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
5-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Frequent Standing Water, Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 21 days.

50% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Itea p. 161Public domain
Show the original text
Itea (Saxifragaceae). I. virginica germ. best in 40-70L(50-65% in 1-3 w) and less in 40-70D(1 1% in 3-6 w) and 70D-40-70D(3%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 gave similar results to the fresh seed. Seed would presumably given good germination in 70L, but this was not tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Itea p. 161. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

3% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Itea p. 161Public domain
Show the original text
Itea (Saxifragaceae). I. virginica germ. best in 40-70L(50-65% in 1-3 w) and less in 40-70D(1 1% in 3-6 w) and 70D-40-70D(3%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 gave similar results to the fresh seed. Seed would presumably given good germination in 70L, but this was not tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Itea p. 161. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page