Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'
Images shown may be of mature plants.
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'
Hardy Native Plant with Visual Appeal!
- Spring to Summer White Flower Clusters Attract Butterflies.
- Great Look - Arching Branches form a Rounded Mound
- Deer and Disease Resistant
- Wet Site and Shade Tolerant!
Product Details
Growing Zones 5-9
| Soil Type | Adaptable |
| Sunlight | Full, Partial |
| Drought Tolerance | Good |
| Mature Height | 3-4 Feet |
| Mature Width | 4-5 Feet |
| Growth Rate | moderate |
| Fall Color | Orange |
| Bloom Color | White |
| Shipping Restriction | AZ |
The Virginia Sweetspire is inspiring! This native beauty looks great in almost any landscape and stays lovely with only minimal care. Beautiful tassel like blooms cover this bush in late spring into summer. The light sweet scent of the white flower clusters is irresistible to butterflies AND humans!
The attractive habit of the Sweetspire is mounded and spreading with arching branches similar to a weeping willow. Because of this, this shrub is also known as the Virginia Willow. The fall foliage is attractive and long lasting into winter. It ranges from yellow and orange to red.
The Virginia Sweetspire is a tough shrub that tolerates wet conditions, clay soil, heavy shade, and erosion. This easy to grow shrub is deer and disease resistant and drought tolerant once established.
Key Features:
- The Virginia Sweetspire is a native shrub that is predominantly found in wetland and swamp areas throughout the US. Adding native plants is great for the environment and you - as they tend to be easier to maintain!
- Super versatile in the landscape, the Sweetspire offers a lot of options! From sun to shade, as a border, specimen, group, or foundation planting this semi-evergreen bush will fill in and spruce up your yard even in hard to grow spots.
- Tough as nails! The Virginia Sweetspire is low maintenance, adaptable, and hardy. It resists deer, diseases, and pests. It tolerates wet, dry, and clay soils, sun and shade conditions, and erosion.
Special Note: The Virginia Sweetspire is considered semi-evergreen. This means in warmer regions the leaves are often maintained year-round!
Virginia Sweetspire FAQ
Why Is My Viginia Sweetspire Not Blooming?
Getting enough sunlight and planting in the correct zone will help ensure your sweetspire blooms in late spring into summer.
Where Should I Plant This Shrub?
This sweetspire is adaptable to a variety of soils and will thrive in a spot that gets full sun to part shade exposure in grow zones 5-9.
When Should This Sweetspire Be Pruned?
Sweetspire do not require pruning, this shrub grows on old wood so any pruning and removal of unwanted limbs should be done after blooming is finished.
Virginia Sweetspire Care
Spring and fall are ideal times to plant your Virginia Sweetspire. However, if you avoid temperature extremes you can plant almost any time of the year.
Virginia Sweetspire tolerate sun and shade and are adaptable to a variety of soil including wet and clay. If your soil is nutrient rich your Sweetspire will not require fertilizer. Fertilize in early spring and when planting if your soil is lacking. Choose a basic slow release fertilizer. Water deeply with a hose 2-3 times weekly for the first few months after planting. These shrubs like moist to
wet soil, but are actually drought tolerant once established. Sweetspire do not require pruning. Mulching is a good option to protect the roots and helps retain soil moisture.
Sweetspire are deer, disease, and pest resistant.
Landscape ideas
The Virginia Sweetspire can be used practically anywhere in your landscape. Use it as a foundation planting or border around your home or deck. It looks great in a group planting, a mixed bed, or as a lone specimen. Sweet Spires work well near water and under trees and are perfectly suited for rain gardens or natural areas. Plant it next to a walkway or patio so you can enjoy the Sweetspire up close.