This plant was a challenge for me, eventually being removed because it needed a more acidic, moister soil than my customer could provide. Iron deficiency (nutrient lock-up) would show itself as chlorosis in the youngest leaves. What is your soil Ph, do you know?Not sure about drooping leaves though - hopefully, someone who grows this well with reply with a more helpful response than me.

I wouldn't say acidic conditions are a "must" for Itea (nor the the cause of the OP's issues necessarily). Itea is widely planted in my area by landscapers and in public plantings at parks/office complexes, etc. and our soils are generally just on the acidic side of neutral.

Mine looks a lot like the OPs, and my soil pH is 7.2.

So yes, I'd say it is pH.

The yellowing is probably due to iron deficiency -- see if chelated iron reverses it, and work in a soil acidifier. IDK about the drooping leaves, though.

Mine looks a lot like the OPs, and my soil pH is 7.2.

So yes, I'd say it is pH.

==>>>

were pictures removed form the post.. or are we working on words alone..

it would be usual to ask where you are.. big city name.. so we can rule out frost or freeze damage.. based on pix provided...

otherwise.. seems like you most likely got the answer you need.. if you dont need to rule out other possible issues....

ken

PH is always a major consideration for me - I grow on chalk, watered from our famously hard-water aquifers. Reasonably tolerant shrubs such as chaenomeles are extremely quick to register disgust in my soil so there are a whole heap of plants which are doomed to utter failure in my gardens. I grew up in the acidic and wet NW (famous for it's soft water and cotton mills) so I have hopefully tried and failed to create the landscapes of my youth (zenobia, enkianthus, hamamelis, rhodies, crinodendron...all lost to a dread mix of dry and alkaline earth.

Tell me about it!

The western US natives that are adapted to the pH, can't handle the wet. The UK recommended for chalk lists can't handle the cold. The local nurseries have rows and rows of azaleas, even though they can't grow them either.

When I first moved here, I don't know how many plants I had mysterious difficulties with until I learned to look hard for those words 'prefers acidic soil'.

Thanks so much everyone. Given that Itea can handle wet feet, I tackled the possibilities of moisture stress and pH by applying slow-release sulfur as well as a chelated iron foliar spray. Watered it all in super well, and I think things are looking a little happier? We'll see as things progress. Much appreciated!