The shrub grows rounded and produces bottlebrush-looking, droopy, white floral sprays from late spring to mid-summer.
In autumn, the leaves turn red, orange, and gold shades.
It can spread and fill quickly in the right conditions via suckering roots.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Virginia sweetspire is suitable for erosion control or enticing bees and butterflies to your garden.
It also produces edible seeds for birds and is deer-resistant.
It is not toxic to humans and animals.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Shady conditions may limit flower production and muffle the autumn color.
Warmer climates call for more shade.
Soil
Plant this shrub in humusy, well-drained, somewhat moist soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It prefers a slightly acidic pH but grows well in various soils.
Although these bushes toleratewet groundand clay soils, they will perform best in well-drained soils.
They will tolerate short periods of drought but perform best when they receive regular water.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Hot climates call for more water.
Temperature and Humidity
Virginia sweetspire grows quite well in very hot conditions, with plenty of water.
In the northern part of the hardiness range, winter cold may cause dieback of the branch tips.
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
Fertilizer
Feed these plants each spring with a balanced granular fertilizer mixed into the soil.
Additional feeding during the growing season is not necessary.
If you prune it in the spring, you risk removing the flower buds.
Such dieback in winter means the loss of some of the flower buds that produce blooms in spring.
If you do not want the bushes to spread, stay ahead of any root-suckering that may occur.
Root suckering is most prevalent with shrubs planted in wet ground.
Propagating Virginia Sweetspire
Virginia sweetspire is a rare jot down of shrub that divides easily.
It will come back strong in the spring.
Even deer tend to leave it alone.
However, it might develop flea beetles or leaf spot.
How Long Does Virginia Sweetspire Bloom?
Virginia sweetspire blooms throughout the summer and into fall.
In winter, the branches turn tan, and the sweetspire starts to die back.
What Does Virginia Sweetspire’s Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The flowers look like white bottle brushes with tiny flowers making up the floral sprays (racemes).
The flowers have a pleasant, sweet smell.
How to Encourage More Blooms
Consistent moisture in well-draining soil is a must.
This results in a lack of chlorophyll, which in turn causes leaves to lose their color and fade.
Severe cases can kill the plant.
To reverse this problem, it’s important to make the soil more acidic.
Work in a bit of pelleted sulfur or organic matter, such as sawdust or leaves.
Given ideal conditions, this plant can survive for up to 40 years.
Itea virginica L. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Itea virginica.NC State Extension Service Plant Finder
