Virginia sweetspire
Itea virginica L.
Arching native shrub with drooping white flower tassels in late spring and long-lasting red to purple fall colour. Tolerates wet soils and some shade.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 0.9–1.8 m (3–6 ft) tall and 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft) wide; medium growth, about 6 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.25) from the #3 install size.
Bloom
White flowers, May–Jun (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia sweetspire : May–Jun |
Design notes
- Spreads by suckers into a thicket — good for slopes and rain gardens, edge it in formal beds.
- 'Henry's Garnet' and dwarf 'Little Henry' are common selections.
Regions
Native range: Eastern U.S. from New Jersey to Florida and Texas.
Native to these OpenLandscape3D pilot regions:
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Virginia sweetspire
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.