Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)

One of the sweetest smells in the late spring garden is the Virginia Sweetspire. In late May to early June, this native shrub is covered with two to six inch long, drooping spikes of half inch star shaped, white flowers. The spikes of flowers are showy as well as fragrant. Bees love them. So be careful where you put your nose. But you don’t have to get very close because the fragrance fills the air. This shrub is small at three to five feet tall and usually wider than tall. It will succor where the branches touch the ground, especially in wet areas. It has lustrous medium to dark green leaves that turn scarlet red to purple red to orange in the fall. The flowers become spikes of brown seed pods. This shrub prefers sun or partial shade and fertile soil. It is very adaptable to pH and grows in wet to dry conditions. The growth rate is moderate to rapid.
This shrub is native to the Eastern coast of the United States from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas. It is an excellent small adaptable shrub with fragrant, showy white flowers in late spring and good fall color. Ours is along the walk to the greenhouse bordering the shade garden. Be sure to walk past it slowly so you can enjoy the wonderful fragrance.
Info about Sweetspire