Virginia sweetspire

About Virginia sweetspire

Virginia sweetspire is a native shrub with arching branches tipped in drooping, bottlebrush-like spikes of small, lightly fragrant white flowers in late spring, then red, orange and purple fall color that can hang on into early winter (Clemson, NC State). It grows wild from southern New Jersey to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma and north through Missouri and southern Illinois, in swamps, wet woods and stream banks (Wildflower Center). It handles wet soil and short floods, so it suits rain gardens and creek banks, and it slowly spreads by root suckers into thickets.

Hardy in zones 5-9 (NC State, Clemson, Morton Arboretum). In the warmer part of its range some leaves stay on through winter, but they drop once it gets below about 15-20 F (Clemson).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Plant container shrubs in spring or fall and water deeply until the roots spread, which takes at least two growing seasons (UMN). Leave room between plants: it fills gaps by sending up suckers from spreading roots (Clemson). Outside wet sites, water during droughts (Wildflower Center).

Soil

Moist, acid soil rich in organic matter is best; it takes clay, poor drainage and periodic flooding, and once settled it tolerates drier sites, though high-pH soil can cause yellow leaves (chlorosis) (Wildflower Center, NC State, Morton Arboretum).

Test the soil first; work organic matter into moist, slightly acid soil, since high-pH soil can yellow the leaves (NC State, Morton Arboretum, Clemson).

Feeding

• Spring to early summer after new growth starts, only if a soil test shows a need: slow-release complete fertilizer in a 3:1:2 ratio, or what the soil test calls for. Spread it evenly from the stems out to the drip line and water it in; a typical soil-test rate for shrubs is about 2 lb of 12-6-6 per 100 sq ft (Clemson). Follow a soil test.

NC State warns against over-fertilizing. Water matters more than food: water daily for the first 2 weeks, every 2-3 days through week 12, then weekly until established (at least two growing seasons), using a quarter to a third of the nursery pot's volume each time (UMN); outside wet sites, keep watering in droughts (Wildflower Center).

Harvest

Blooms in May and June; each spike opens from the base upward, so the show lasts for weeks (Clemson). Flower buds form by late summer on that year's shoots, so prune right after flowering if at all; removing a few of the oldest, thickest stems now and then brings vigorous new shoots and more flowers (Clemson, NC State).

Varieties (12)

Clemson, NC State and the Morton Arboretum document these 12 cultivars; all have white flowers.

Diseases and problems

Leaf spot, Mildew, Iron chlorosis in high-pH soil

In the kitchen

Safety: The extension sources we used give no poison rating or toxicity warning for Virginia sweetspire. It is grown for looks, not food.

Pets: Not listed by the ASPCA (no Itea, sweetspire or Virginia willow entry on its dog, cat or horse plant lists).