One of my personal favorites in the native shrub category is the Virginia willow. This is also called Virginia sweetspire and known botanically as Itea virginica. Yes, I know we are not in Virginia, but this shrub is native to our area and is being used more and more the past few years. Interest in this plant really increased in the late 1990s when ‘Henry’s Garnet’ started catching on with landscape contractors with the naming of this variety as a Louisiana Select plant.
Flowers are the major feature of Virginia willow. Flowers are 4- to 5-inch white racemes (some varieties have a pinkish tinge) and have moderate fragrance. Flowering occurs over a 4-6 week period in the spring right about the time azaleas complete their flowering. A dark-green background or light shade of a woodland garden improves the flower display. This plant makes a graceful, slightly cascading growth habit.
Plants reach about 3-8 feet tall and have an equal spread. This height and width can be variable depending on the variety chosen. Sometimes the plants can be slightly wider than tall due to clump-forming growth that is reminiscent of a blueberry-like habit. This spreading growth occurs after a couple years in the landscape. Prune any undesirable growth in the spring after flowering is completed.
Foliage of the Virginia willow is especially handsome in fall. The leaves turn a brilliant, deep, red-purple and persist late into the fall. Plants are deciduous in some areas but actually are semi-evergreen in some parts of south Louisiana.
This plant tolerates Louisiana's wet and heavy soils but also performs well in drier sites. It is frequently found in the wild in locations that have moist soil. Virginia willow is also adapted to a wide range of soil pH and can adapt to almost any soil type or drainage situation in a landscape. Even though they prefer a slightly moist soil, they are very drought tolerant. Morning sun with afternoon shade is a nice planting location.
There are several varieties of Virginia willow available. Henry’s Garnet, Sarah Eve and Little Henry are available at garden centers. Henry’s Garnet is the most popular and has the best landscape vigor. Sarah Eve has light pinkish color to the flowers. Little Henry is a dwarf form.
Plant in the fall for best results. Fertilize once annually with a 3- to 4-month slow-release fertilizer. It is best to apply fertilizer in the late winter just prior to new growth or in the mid- to late spring after flowering.
There are native plants that deserve a place in your landscape, and this is one of the best. Nice flowers, nice foliage, native and site-adaptable – sounds like a sustainable landscape plant.