- Partial Shade to Partial Sun (3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 3 - 4 Feet
- Mature Spread 3 - 4 Feet
- Growing Zones 5 - 8
Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire, or Itea virginica Henry's Garnet, is a compact deciduous variety, with fragrant, ivory, summer flowers that bloom in 6-inch long, catkin-like clusters. With a height of 3 to 4 feet, this Sweetspire has narrow, dark green leaves that transform to vivacious purple or cherry red in autumn. This resilient foliage stays nested on the plant well into the winter. It is a condensed showstopper, slightly-spreading from 5 to 6 feet.
Native to the eastern United States, Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire is one of the American Beauties Native Plants®. The root word for this Sweetspire is “Itea”, which is Greek for “willow”, and is a nod to the plant's graceful racemes of delicate flowers. It is known to attract litanies of butterflies. They are deer and pest resistant, and after they are established, are very drought tolerant.
Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire Care
Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire can tolerate many different types of soils ranging from moist to dry, to alkaline to slightly-acidic. It prefers partial sun to dappled shade and requires little to no pruning. Sweetspire grows by spreading suckers from its large, well-adapted patches.
Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire Spacing
Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire is perfect for grouping or as a single specimen. They are perfect for woodland gardens, and great for erosion control on hillsides or alongside streams. You can plant your Sweetspire in a hedge or border, as well as in a container. They can thrive even in very wet areas, and look lovely paired with potentilla and syringa. They should be spaced 4 to 6 inches apart at planting.
Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 |
Plant Type: Bushes |
Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Partial Sun (3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 3 - 4 Feet |
Mature Spread: 5 - 6 Feet |
Spacing: 5 - 6 Feet |
Habit: Spreading |
Flower Color(s): White |
Flower Description: |
Bloom Period: Early June |
Foliage Type: Variegated |
Foliage Color(s): Green, Red |
Foliage Description: Reddish-Purple Fall Foliage |
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer, Disease |
Tolerates: Drought |
Attracts: Butterflies |
Container Role: |
Uses: Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Native to North America |
Brand: |
Common Name: Henrys Garnet Virginia Sweetspire |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: ITEA VIRGINICA `HENRY`S GARNET` |
- SKU:
- 1001094-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
For more detailed information, please click here.
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Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)

Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.