Virginia sweetspire is an easy-care, native shrub that offers fragrant flowers in spring and brilliant burgundy fall color.
It has few problems and needs minimal pruning other than removing suckers if you want to limit its spread.
A mass planting of this shrub can be spectacular and is usually preferable to single plants.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It spreads by suckers to create dense colonies, which can be used as a barrier.
It is also useful on banks to control erosion.
Suckers are easy to remove where they are not wanted.
Credit: Ian Adams
Fall is also the best time todivide suckers to expand a planting.
To plant Virginia sweetspire, select a site that can be kept moist while the shrub becomes established.
Allow 4 to 6 feet of space between plants.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Dig a hole twice as wide and about the same depth as the shrubs root ball.
Backfill the hole around the root ball with the soil removed when you dug the hole and water thoroughly.
Cover the area with about 3 inches of organic mulch to help maintain even soil moisture.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Virginia Sweetspire Care Tips
Virginia sweetspire is an extraordinarily low-maintenance and easy-to-grow shrub.
Its also adaptable to a wide range of conditions.
If you’re gonna wanna limit its spread, remove unwanted suckers as they appear.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Soil and Water
The ideal soil for Virginia sweetspire is somewhatmoist but well-drainedand high in organic matter.
A good rule of thumb is to provide an inch of water per week.
A 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch will help maintain even soil moisture.
Damaged stems can be removed in the spring.
The shrub is semi-evergreen and will maintain its leaves until the temperature drops to 20F or lower.
In warmer regions, the shrub prefers temperatures between 40 and 95F.
It handles high heat well as long as it receives plenty of water.
Some shade andmulchingare beneficial to prevent the soil from drying out.
Virginia sweetspire prefers a moist, humid environment, although it tolerates drought after it is established.
In that case, remove dead stems back to a healthy bud or stem.
Pruning suckers to prevent unwanted spread should be done whenever they appear.
Cut the underground portion of the sucker and remove it.
Use a high-quality potting mix and keep the Virginia sweetspire well watered.
No repotting is necessary.
Pests and Problems
Virginia sweetspire has few pests, althoughflea beetlesmay occasionally visit a plant.
These will be ready to plant in the landscape the following spring.
It grows 3 to 5 feet tall and spreads from 4 to 6 feet.
The deep wine-red fall foliage often persists well into winter.
It is also more cold-tolerant, so it often excels in Zone 5.
‘Sarah’s Eve’ grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide.
Zones 59
Virginia Sweetspire Companion Plants
Plants that thrive in moist shade combine well with Virginia sweetspire.
Foamflower(Tiarellaspp.)
is a popular shade garden plant and woodland native.
After the flowering season ends, its dark green foliage forms an attractive backdrop for other flowering plants.
Coral Bells
Low-maintenancecoral bells(Heucheraspp.)
come in a rainbow of colors.
These perennials thrive in woodland locations as long as they have well-drainingnot soggysoil.
They attract birds and pollinators, and the blooms are lovely in cut-flower arrangements.
Wild Ginger
Low-growing wild ginger(Asarumspp.)
thrives in moist, shady places.
This lush groundcover spreads by rhizomes.
Wild ginger isnt related to culinary ginger.
In most areas where it grows, it is deciduous.
