VMC Native Garden ShrubLight: Full Sun –Partial Shade
Water: Average to wet
Soil: Adaptable, tolerates wet soil
Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9
Height: 3 – 4 ft
Spacing: 4 – 6 ft
Bloom Times: June – July
Bloom Color: White
Garden Use: Low-growing shrub, great in shady areas. Can be used in mixed borders, rain gardens, pollinator gardens, native gardens.
Benefits: Fragrant, long drooping stalks of flowers grace this shrub in late spring, early summer. Attracts a variety of pollinators and its seeds are eaten by birds. Three-season interest with a beautiful array of fall colors. Tolerates clay soil. Deer resistant.
Received the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Sweetspire
Q U I C K T I P S
Great for shady areas, Itea virginica (Sweetspire) has fragrant flowers that attract pollinators and brighten up lower areas of the shade garden. Though it grows in full sun, the soil should be moist. There are a few delightful varieties of Itea virginica (Sweetspire) and ‘Henry’s Garnet’ is a lovely, variety commonly found in nurseries where this species is sold.
With 3-season interest, this flowering shrub produces flowers and lush green foliage that turns to vibrant reds, oranges and yellows in the fall. It’s a great plant for wet areas and/or shady areas that might be difficult for other plants to grow. Deer tend to ignore this shrub as well.