holly-leaved sweet spire
Itea ilicifolia Oliv.
Itea ilicifolia is an evergreen shrub in the Iteaceae family, native to western China. It grows up to 5 m tall with glossy, holly-like leaves and produces fragrant, drooping racemes of greenish-white flowers in summer and autumn. The plant is hardy but young specimens need protection from dry winds.
Description
Itea ilicifolia, known as holly-leaved sweet spire, is a flowering shrub reaching 3–5 m in height and 3 m in width. It is characterized by its glossy, holly-like foliage and long, fragrant clusters of greenish-white flowers that bloom during the summer and autumn. Native to China's North-Central and South-Central regions, it was first described in 1886. The plant is generally hardy but requires some protection for young plants against dry winds.
Other common names
holly-leaved sweet spireHollyleaf Sweetspire
Distribution
China North-Central · China South-Central