One of my favorite, and very underutilized, native shrubs is Itea virginica Virginia sweetspire. Blooming in late May through June with lightly fragrant 6-8″ long sprays of white flowers that are a pollinator magnet. Its natural form is a mounding habit with graceful, arching branches and they will grow to 4-8 feet tall and wide. They spread slowly by underground suckers creating a dense mass of foliage but are by no means invasive. Itea thrives in partial shade and is perfect along the edge of a woodland or for a shrub border planting. Red to purplish Fall color is an added bonus. They love our acid Cape soil and once established are considered low maintenance. They also tolerate wet soils and are great for poor draining areas. Add compost at planting time and mulch to preserve water for newly planted shrubs.
~ Terry Soares
