Little Henry Sweetspire

Itea virginica 'Little Henry'

Little Henry sweetspire is a compact cultivar of Virginia sweetspire that stays two to three feet tall. small enough for a foundation planting, container, or the front of a shaded border, but carrying all the multi-season value of the full-size species. In June and July, long arching spikes of fragrant white flowers appear and droop gracefully from the branches. Stand near it on a warm afternoon and the sweet fragrance carries clearly. Native bees cover the flowers. The fall color is among the most reliable and long-lasting of any native shrub, turning orange to scarlet to deep crimson and holding for three to four weeks. It tolerates wet soil, heavy shade, clay, and drought. the full range of difficult conditions. which makes it one of the most useful small natives in the trade. Deer won't touch it. Plant it where other things have failed and let it show you what it does.