Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Adaptable to shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Can spread to form colonies by root suckering if left unchecked.
This Virginia sweetspire cultivar is an erect, rounded, deciduous shrub which typically grows 3-4' tall. Features fragrant, tiny white flowers borne in cylindrical, drooping racemes (3-6" long) which cover the shrub with bloom in early summer. Oval, dark green leaves (1-4" long) turn an attractive garnet red in autumn, sometimes persisting on the shrub until December. Flowers (racemes larger) and fall color of this cultivar are superior to that of the species.
Erect to drooping 3-6 inch spires of fragrant creamy white flowers cover this compact, 3-4 foot tall shrub in early summer. Dark green leaves turn attractive shades of bronze, red and garnet in autumn, persisting well after first frost. Valued for both its beauty and its cultural flexibility, it grows well in sun or shade and in moist, boggy soil conditions as well as average garden soil. Naturalizes by underground suckers to form thickets.
No serious insect or disease problems.
Versatile shrub for sunny or shady areas of the shrub border or woodland garden. Also a good specimen or foundation plant. Naturalizes well in wild locations. Good for wet locations such as low spots or on the edges of streams or ponds.
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Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110(314) 577-5100 hours and admission
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