Need a plant for the soggy problem area in your yard? Give Virginia sweetspire a try! Plus, learn which pollinators stop by its white flowers.
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How to Grow a Virginia Sweetspire Shrub
Native to the southeastern United States, Virginia sweetspire is a staple of damp woods, swamps, and stream banks. Because it naturally grows in damp conditions, it’s tolerant of a range of soils and can even be a great addition to low areas in your yard. It grows best in moist, slightly acidic soil and full sun. Many plant it as part of a shrub border, or in the background of native plant gardens.
From approximately May to June, the shrub boasts lovely white flowers that grow in dangling clusters. The blooms are pretty by themselves, but they’re slightly fragrant, too, which many gardeners enjoy. The shrub also offers abundant interest in fall, when its green foliage turns bright red.
Growing Information
Common name: Virginia sweetspire, Virginia willow
Botanical name: Itea virginica
Growing zones: 5 to 9
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Width: 3 to 6 feet
Light needs: Full to medium sun
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
Grown for: Fragrant flowers and pollinator benefits
Benefits of Growing Virginia Sweetspire
Plenty of gardeners enjoy the sweet-smelling flowers of Virginia sweetspire, which bloom in late spring and early summer. The shrub’s flowers bring in many beneficial pollinators, along with butterflies and even hummingbirds. Gardeners also enjoy its yellow, orange and reddish-purple colors in the fall. Henry’s Garnet is an excellent choice for fall color, as is Scarlet Beauty.
Even better, this shrub is generally unfussy. It prefers full sun and moist soil, but it tolerates a wide variety of growing conditions. It’s a great pick for areas in a yard that tend to accumulate water, since it’s flood-tolerant, and it’s deer-resistant, too. If you’re in need of a compact option, try Little Henry — it grows in the same conditions as the rest of the plants, but it reaches 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
Sources
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, “Itea virginica”
- Grow Native Missouri Prairie Foundation, “Virginia Sweetspire“
