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Shrubs

Itea virginica 'Merlot'

A compact, deciduous shrub to 1m tall, with narrowly ellliptic, finely toothed, dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers are borne in dense, erect to arching, 15cm long spikes in summer. In autumn the leaves turn wine-red. Grow in a moist shrub border or as a free-standing specimen

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Iteaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Itea can be deciduous shrubs, or evergreen shrubs or small trees, with small white, cream or pale green flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, slightly acid soil in partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed as soon as ripe in containers in an open frame, or by greenwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

See pruning group 2

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility

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