ITEA. South and East Asia, Eastern U.S. A small but far-flung group of shrubs and trees, placed at times in the currant family, sometimes in their own, and most recently with the escallonias. They may be evergreen or deciduous, but all have attractive toothed leaves. The flowers are small but carried in dense, often drooping clusters. Fragrance is another common virtue. The following are beautiful, well-behaved shrubs with a variety of uses, of sufficiently moderate size for smaller gardens. Their culture and hardiness are a little different, though both need reasonably well drained, non-alkaline soil and constant moisture (their actual use of water, however, is modest).

ilicifolia. Western China. This is a shapely evergreen shrub, growing as much as 15’ high but easily controllable at half that size. It has holly-like (though softer to the touch) leaves up to 4" long, dark and glossy above and pale beneath. In summer narrow fragrant greenish white flowers hang in clusters as much as 1’ long. It needs some shade inland and protection from drying winds. It should be hardy to 10^oF. or less.

virginica ‘Little Henry’. Sweetspire. A recent selection of the one American species. It is round to upright-oval in form and closely branched, growing about 4’ high. The leaves are broadly oval and pointed, with a neat, feather-like pattern of veins. They are bright green and shiny on both surfaces, tinged with red in new growth and combining wild reds and purples for several weeks before dropping in fall or early winter. The flower clusters are relatively short and spreading. Each carries dozens of tiny fragrant white flowers. It thrives in sun or shade and is hardy to 0^oF. or less.