Summer Blooming Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) for Sun or Shade

Bring in the butterflies, hummingbirds and bees with the lightly fragrant flowers of Virginia Sweetspire.

Also known by its botanical name, Itea, this shrub grows 3 to 5 or 6 feet tall. Drooping 4-inch tassels of white flowers appear in late May through June. The long-lasting flowers and outstanding red, orange or gold fall color make it a great addition to the landscape. It will form suckering colonies excellent for erosion control and natural plantings.

The native Itea is hardy in zones 5 to 9 and grows well in full sun to shade and moist acidic soils. It can be chlorotic and less vigorous when grown in alkaline soil. Scarlet Beauty is more tolerant of high pH soils and hardy to zone 4. Henry’s Garnet has outstanding reddish-purple fall color and reddish-purple stems that add color to the winter landscape.

A bit more information: Little Henry grows 3 to 4 feet and is more compact while the cultivar Scentlandia^® only grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and has very fragrant flowers. Wait until after the Itea is finished flowering to do any needed pruning.