Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The Little Henry Sweetspire appears to have it all! It will give you a stunning show for seasons. The unique fragrant blooms appear early in the summer with its foliage changing from green to oranges and reds in the fall. It can tolerate a variety of conditions and is deer resistant. This North American native is drought tolerant and brings pollinators to your landscape!
The foliage of the Little Henry Sweetspire is stunning. It is a bright green in the spring and summer and turns orange and red in the fall. The fragrant flowers are white and make their appearance early in the summer. It reaches a height of twenty-four to thirty-six inches. The spread is twenty-four to thirty-six inches. It has a mounded habit which makes it wonderful in a container. It is great for mass plating and works wonderfully as a border plant. Its small size makes it versatile to any area.
Little Henry Sweetspire Care
You can plant the Little Henry Sweetspire in full sun to full shade and it will thrive. However flowering is best with some sun. It is preferable to moist soil that is drained well. It has average water needs. Once established it can tolerate drought. It is not picky about PH levels. If desired, pruning can be done after blooming. After winter any dead wood should be removed. Fertilizer should be slow release and applied in the spring.
Little Henry Sweetspire Spacing
Spacing should be 36” to 44” inches, center on center. Proper spacing is important, especially in proximity planting such as mass planting, border planting, or ground cover.
Little Henry® Sweetspire Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (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
- Full Shade to Full Sun (Most Sun Conditions)
- Mature Height
- 2-3 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2-3 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- Small, white, star-shaped flowers in clusters
- Bloom Time
- 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
- Foliage Description
- Green to red/orange small, oval-shaped leaves
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Interest, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- LittleHenrySweetspire
- Also Known As
- Henry's sweetspire
- Botanical Name
- Itea virginica 'Little Henry'
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- 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
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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!
