Perhaps a very tiny sap-sucking insect? That's what that damage reminds me of.

I can't find the pest, looked under leaves, stems etc. Even used a magnifying glass!

I agree that looks like the foliage damage caused by sucking insects.....most likely aphids. They prefer to feed on very fresh new growth as that is the tenderest and most succulent. They also tend to be long gone by the time the leaf damage is noticeable, which is why you see no visible signs of them now.

I have seen flea beetle damage for 50 years of gardening, but have never seen it cause that kind of curling.

There are no obvious holes in the foliage. Or not the sort of holes flea beetles typically make. Nor do they cause distortion or curling of new growth clearly evidenced in the photo. That is the damage caused by sucking insects, like aphids or whiteflies.

I've been having the same issue with my Little Henry sweetspire since spring. I was at a nursery and saw their entire lot of Little Henrys affected in the same way. I asked someone who works there. They said it's a fungus and offered to sell me spray. I prefer not to use chemicals. I may just yank the plant. Curious if anyone has found a solution or different cause.

If it looks like the leaf damage in the posted photo, then not a fungus but the remnants of a prior sucking insect infestation. Fungal issues simply do not present in that manner.

Wilting, lesions, spotting or scarring, yellowing of leaves, mushiness or soft areas, pustules or visible fungal growths, a visible leaf surface covering........but not leaf distortion.

And any sucking type insects can cause damage that looks like this. Aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, some thrips, psyllids. These types of insects are seldom specific to any particular kind of plant. Itea could be bothered by any of them.

Sweetspire are very susceptible to fungus.

Tell me you've never grown Itea without saying you've never grown Itea...

Is that supposed to imply that east coast plants are not grown on the west coast? Or vice versa?

Having been a professional horticulturist and landscape designer for the past 30 years or so, there are not many east coast plants I haven't grown. Including Itea.

It is not known to be overly susceptible to any diseases or insect pests.

I’m pretty sure you can grow damn near anything where Gardengal lives.

Jay - I've been growing various cultivars of Itea in my zone 5 (upstate NY) garden for many years, and other than a bit of winter dieback, I've had zero issues with it (pest or disease-related or otherwise.) Even in wet/humid summers when fungal issues have wreaked havoc on many other plants, I haven't seen it on Itea, nor I have seen issues with the Iteas I see in other people's gardens and in public plantings around here.

Does that mean Itea is "bullet-proof"? Of course not, but it also goes to show than Jordan's statement about them being "very susceptible to fungus" is either a gross exaggeration, or a purely anecdotal statement based on his own experience.

If you look at actual scientific sources (in its native range, no less), you'll see evidence to the contrary:

Georgia Native Plant Society: "It suffers from no significant diseases or pests, and minimal garden care is required." https://gnps.org/plant/virginia-sweetspire-itea-virginica-2/

MO Botanical garden: "No serious insect or disease problems." https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=286893

NC State Extension: nothing listed under "Insects, Diseases and Other Problems" other than resistance to Phytophthora https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/itea-virginica/

Jordan - of course my own experience is anecdotal. That’s why I included the links to various extension and botanic garden reference sites.

There is so much horrendous behavior on this forum. The accusations and name calling are unacceptable.

With comments like the above - and much worse - is there any mystery why Jordan's and Jay's comments have been deleted? They are in blatant violation of Houzz usage policies! And to have the audacity to claim any sort of bias is ridiculous when these naughty little bully boys are the ones that are creating ALL the dissention and conflict.