Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, mixed borders, mass plantings, rain gardens, woodland edges, and pollinator gardens.
Benefits: Selected as one of the most fragrant sweetspires available, with long white flower spikes from late spring into early summer. The compact, mounded habit colors up red to burgundy in fall and adapts to wet and clay soils.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Mounding, Rounded — dense, compact shrub with arching branches.
Bloom Color: White
Foliage Color: Green, maturing to Red and Burgundy in fall
Mature Height: 2–3 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A sweetspire you smell before you see it.
Virginia sweetspire has always been a dependable native shrub, but most selections are grown for fall color first and fragrance second. Scentlandia® flips that. Its long, slender white flower spikes open in late spring and carry a sweet, honeyed scent that drifts across a patio or along a walkway, right as the spring shrubs are finishing and before summer bloomers take over.
The plant itself stays small and tidy. It forms a dense, rounded mound about two to three feet tall and wide, with branches that arch slightly under the weight of the flowers. That size lets it sit under a window or along the front of a border without regular cutting back.
Fall is the second season. The foliage turns red and deep burgundy and often holds that color for weeks after other shrubs have dropped their leaves. In the warmer part of its range, some leaves may hang on into winter.
Bees work the flowers heavily, and because it comes from a species native to the eastern United States, it fits naturally into native and wildlife plantings. It also handles conditions that set many shrubs back, including heavy clay, low spots that stay damp, and partial shade.
Care
Scentlandia® Sweetspire Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. More sun brings heavier flowering and stronger fall color; in partial shade the plant still blooms well, with somewhat softer autumn tones.
Sweetspire prefers moist, slightly acidic soil with some organic matter, but it is far more adaptable than most shrubs. It tolerates clay and ground that stays wet for stretches, which makes it a good fit for rain gardens and the low corners of a yard where other plants struggle.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Established plants handle wet periods easily and tolerate short dry spells, though they look their best with consistent moisture. A two-to-three-inch layer of mulch helps hold that moisture through summer.
Feeding needs are light. One application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring is plenty, and plants in reasonable soil often need none at all.
Sweetspire flowers on the previous year's growth, so do any shaping right after the blooms fade. Every few years, remove a few of the oldest stems at the base to keep the plant full. It spreads slowly by suckers over time; trim them back if you want to keep it in a tighter footprint, or leave them to fill in a mass planting.
Growing in Containers
Its compact size suits a large patio container. Use a pot with open drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often during warm weather, and feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Scentlandia® Sweetspire for Sale Online?
Our Scentlandia® Sweetspire ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Scentlandia® Sweetspire Grow?
Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, in a rounded, mounding shape. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a continuous low hedge or mass planting.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Scentlandia® Sweetspire?
The botanical name is Itea virginica Scentlandia® ‘SMNIVDFC’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub selected for fragrance and a compact habit.
What are some common names for this plant?
- Virginia sweetspire
- Virginia willow
- Tassel-white
Is Scentlandia® Sweetspire a native plant?
It is a selection of Itea virginica, which is native to the eastern and southeastern United States. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the flowers and pollinator value of the native species in a more compact, garden-friendly size. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Will it grow in wet or clay soil?
Yes. Sweetspire naturally grows along stream banks and in low woods, so it tolerates periodically wet ground and heavy clay better than most flowering shrubs. That makes it one of the more reliable choices for rain gardens, drainage swales, and soggy spots near downspouts. It does not need wet soil to thrive, and grows just as well in an ordinary garden bed.
How is it different from other compact sweetspires?
Most compact sweetspires are chosen for their small size and fall color. Scentlandia® was selected for fragrance as well, so the flowers carry noticeably more scent than typical selections, while the plant still stays around two to three feet. For more flowering shrubs in this size range, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
