Henry’s Garnet Virginia Sweetspire

(36-48” tall x 48-72” wide) Suitable for hedging, borders, or as a stand-alone specimen, ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia Sweetspire is a must-have shrub for native enthusiasts, as well as gardeners who value plants that work hard all through the growing season. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ breaks bud early in the spring and suckers prolifically, making it a fine choice for low deciduous hedging in a full sun to partial shade position. In late spring, fragrant white panicles cover this lovely native shrub and attract a diverse group of pollinators for several weeks. Attractive seed heads persist against strong green foliage throughout the summer; but as cooler weather prevails, the foliage of ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia Sweetspire turns a deep, garnet red, accented with hues of gold and orange. Easy to grow with no serious pest or disease issues, it’s generally deer resistant. Native to the Southeastern United States, Virginia Sweetspire prefers moist, rich, soils in full sun to partial shade, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and pHs; suitable to rain gardens. It will naturalize where given the space. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ can be grown in shadier conditions, but bloom will be lessened, and the long stems will reach toward the sun. Best flowering occurs with 4 hours of sun per day. If desired, prune to keep growth tidy; this plant blooms on previous season’s wood, so pruning should be done immediately after flowering in late spring. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ has larger flowers and better fall color  compared to the species.