Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
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 Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Partial Shade (3-4 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-4 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5-6 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Spreading
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring to Early Summer
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green, Red
- Foliage Description
- Green, Reddish-Purple Fall Foliage
- Foliage Type
- , Variegated
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Henrys Garnet Virginia Sweetspire
- Botanical Name
- ITEA VIRGINICA 'HENRY'S GARNET'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
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.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!