Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)Sweetspire Family Virginia Sweetspire forms a very attractive low hedge by sending out suckers at a relatively fast growth rate in the right conditions. Six hours of sun in average to moist soils is ideal, but more or less sun is also tolerated. The more sun you plant in, the more moisture is appreciated. In late spring, 4-6”, wildly arrayed racemes of white flowers appear that attract pollinators of all kinds, but are particularly attractive to butterflies. Flowers turn into dropping clusters of seeds that remain attractive through the winter. Leaves turn shades of red and orange in the fall, and some usually remain on the red stems through the winter. Blooms: White, 2-3 weeks, MayLeaves: Medium green, simple, oval, turn shades of yellow, red, and orange in fallHeight: 4-6’Space: 2-3’Soil: Average-Moist-WetExposure: Full sun-Part sun-Part shadeFauna: Bees, butterflies, moths, beetlesSeeds: Drooping brown clusters of seeds are attractive through the winterDeer Resistance: HighZone: 5-9Native Status: NC Native, common in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, uncommon in the MountainsProvenance: Unknown, asexually and seed propagated
