Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ (Henry’s Garnet Sweetspire) is an outstanding selection of the North American native shrub Itea virginica, prized for its fragrant summer flowers, attractive arching form, and exceptional fall color. In early to mid-summer, this deciduous shrub produces long, graceful clusters of fragrant white flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.
As summer transitions into fall, the dark green foliage develops striking shades of deep burgundy, garnet red, and purple that can persist well into the season, providing exceptional multi-season interest. Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ performs well in full sun to partial shade and thrives in moist to wet soils, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens, woodland edges, native plant gardens, stream banks, pond margins, and naturalized landscapes.
Its gently spreading habit makes it especially effective for mass plantings, borders, and erosion control, while its adaptability to both wet and average garden conditions adds versatility to the landscape. With fragrant summer blooms, outstanding autumn color, and strong wildlife value, Henry’s Garnet Sweetspire is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a beautiful, low-maintenance native shrub that provides year-round seasonal interest and supports pollinators.