It’s beginning to feel a lot like autumn, and right on cue, the leaves are beginning to don their magnificent fall costumes. But it’s not just trees that can put on a show! Itea virginica, AKA sweetspire, is a great supporting act. Its beautiful fall color and mounding shape make it the perfect native alternative to Japanese barberry (Bergeris thunbergii) or burning bush (Euonymus alatus). This undemanding small shrub does well in sun or shade, although its lovely white blooms (irresistible to bees) will be more abundant in sunny conditions. In natural habitats, it’s found primarily in moist soils along stream banks and floodplains, but it can also handle drier spots once established. While the straight species can be hard to find, cultivars like ‘Henry’s Garnet’ (pictured) are usually readily available. At the SBG, you’ll spot several in our Shrub Showcase.
