Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Virginia Sweetspire - #3 Container 1-2 Feet is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Virginia Sweetspire highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Shade
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Growing Zones 5 - 9
The highly ornamental native, the Virginia Sweetspire Bush (Itea virginica) is a hardy, aromatic flowering shrub with loads of wildlife and landscape appeal! The dense branching and green foliage look fantastic all spring and provide a lush backdrop for the bottlebrush blooms later on.
In late May and early June, Sweetspire churns out fragrant, pendulous bottlebrushes of starry white blossoms! Great pollinator garden plants, that attract butterflies in droves! These natives are trouble-free, ornamentals with a multitude of vital bird-friendly attributes!
Growing 3-5 feet in height and width, these compact and highly adaptable deciduous shrubs feature amazing fall color! Growing throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9, the fragrant blooms are wonderfully adaptable and are very showy in the summer shade or sun! Then the fall brings wonderful color as a mix of red and orange shades appear!
Planting and Application:
Lovely specimens and accent shrubs for sun or shade, Sweetspire are widely adaptable natives! You can even plant this easy-going accent en masse in your wildlife-friendly garden, where it will nourish native pollinators in summer and beautify the landscape all year long!
A versatile charmer, Sweetspire can be used in just about any sun or soil condition. Why not take advantage of this rare trait? Use this as a long-running screening or border hedge through sunny and shade conditions in many parts of your yard. Or, tie your landscape together by repeating its use throughout your garden beds.
Sweetspire shrubs are great for wildlife groupings and en masse on banks to control erosion. Plant two feet apart on center in staggered, zigzagging rows to fill hard-to-mow hillsides with fragrant beauty!
Woodland gardens and Butterfly gardens are great, but because native Sweetspire prefers moist soils and will tolerate well-drained wet conditions, they also make great additions to Rain Gardens!
- Bottlebrush White Flowers Fragrant, Showy Blooms
- Lush Green Leaves & Amazing Fall Color
- Compact Size & Full Growth
- Butterfly & Bird-Friendly
- Hedges & Screening, Adaptable Specimens & Wildlife-Friendly
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Sweetspire bushes are durable natives that tolerate full sun, partial sun, and even full shade! As with most flowering shrubs, you'll enjoy more blooms in higher sun environments. More sun also delivers a better bloom show and fall color display.
Growing in both boggy ground and can even handle periodic drought, any well-drained soil will support these versatile plants. Just water new installations regularly during their first year and provide Nature Hills Root Booster and a layer of arborist bark chips to support their growth.
Fertilize in early spring with a good, organic, slow-release fertilizer. Use the application rate listed on the label. If you would like, prune Virginia Sweetspire after they bloom. If you notice any winter damage after a harsh winter, prune it out soon after new growth has begun in the spring.
- Tolerates Full Sun, Full Shade & Partial Shade
- Handles Both Drought & Wet Soil
- Deer-Resistant & Pest, Disease & Maintenance Free
- Highly Adaptable Native
- Water Well Before Winter & During Establishment
Widely underused, there are few shrubs prettier and more adaptable than the native Virginia Sweetspire shrub! Be sure to order enough for your next project at NatureHills.com today!
