Itea ilicifolia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Itea ilicifolia | |
|---|---|
| I. ilicifolia, Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Iteaceae |
| Genus: | Itea |
| Species: | I. ilicifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Itea ilicifolia | |
Itea ilicifolia, the holly-leaved sweet spire, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iteaceae, native to western China. It is an evergreen shrub growing to 3–5 m (10–16 ft) tall by 3 m (10 ft) broad, with glossy holly-like leaves and fragrant drooping racemes of greenish-white flowers, 30 cm (12 in) long, in summer and autumn.[1] It is hardy, though young plants require protection from dry winds.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2][3]