Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Shrub Virginia Sweetspire By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 9, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Native to areas of North America, Virginia sweetspire is an easy-growing shrub favored for its clusters of fragrant early-summer flowers and brilliant red-purple fall color. The plant's small size makes it easy to incorporate into the landscape, though it does have a suckering habit. Virginia sweetspire grows best in moist to wet soil that's rich in organic matter, though it tolerates average soil. While it blooms best and usually develops the strongest autumn color in sunny spots, it can be grown in the shade. Virginia Sweetspire Overview Genus Name Itea virginica_ 'Henry's Garnet' Common Name Virginia Sweetspire Plant Type Shrub Light Part Sun, Sun Height 1 to 3 feet Width null to 6 feet Flower Color White Season Features Colorful Fall Foliage, Summer Bloom Special Features Fragrance, Low Maintenance Zones 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Good For Privacy Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit