Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire, Virginia-willow)

Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic

Fragrant, showy four-inch spires of white blossoms fall from arching stems in late spring. In autumn, the leaves of Virginia Sweetspire turn a vibrant red to orange. This native* favorite has graceful open growth habit and performs best in partial shade with moist soil.

*It is native to DC and to NoVA (except for Loudoun County) although it is rare in the outer Piedmont. It is common in the Coastal Plains of DE and VA. It is extirpated in PA.

Print Version (Legal Size): Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire, Virginia-willow)

Itea virginica, Virginia Sweetspire Virginia-willow, Upright, arching to rounded deciduous shrub, Oval, lustrous dark green leaves, 1-4 inches long persist well into winter, Tiny white flowers in cylindrical, drooping clusters cover the shrub in June and July, Brown fruit capsule from August to March, It is native to DC and to NoVA (except for Loudoun County) although it is rare in the outer Piedmont. It is common in the Coastal Plains of DE and VA. It is extirpated in PA., Syringa vulgaris - Lilac, Spiraea japonica - Japanese Spirea, Euonymus alatus - Burning Bush, Daphne odora - Winter Daphne, Berberis thunbergii - Japanese Barberry, Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade, Soil Requirements: Humus-rich soil, Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: Tried and True Plant Fact Sheets