Itea virginica

Common Names

Virginia Sweetspire, Virginia Willow, Sweetspire, Tassel-White, Itea

Summary

Itea virginica, commonly called Virginia Sweetspire, is a native southeastern U.S. deciduous shrub with arching branches, typically 3–6 ft tall and wide (some forms up to 8 ft). It bears fragrant white bottlebrush-like flower spikes 3–6 inches long in late spring to early summer, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, with leaves turning red to orange in fall and fruit capsules persisting into winter. It forms dense colonies via root suckering and tolerates a wide range of soils, preferring moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic conditions, and performs best in sun to partial shade with about four hours of sun daily.

For cultivation, Virginia Sweetspire suits borders, mass plantings, rain gardens, pond margins, and wildlife-friendly landscapes, tolerating drought once established and wet sites alike. Propagation can be by seed, cuttings, or division; pruning after flowering protects next year’s blooms. Notable cultivars include Henry’s Garnet (compact) and others such as Little Henry, Merlot, Sarah Eve, Saturnalia, and Shirley’s Compact; it is generally pest- and deer-resistant and provides multi-season interest with fall color and showy white flower spikes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-6 feet

Spread

3-6 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade; best flowering with about 4–6 hours of sun per day.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

pH below 6.0, slightly acidic.

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green foliage; in autumn, colors can include red, orange, and yellow.

Fall Foliage Color

Fall foliage ranges from orange, red, yellow, gold, burgundy to reddish-purple, varying by cultivar.

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds