Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
Virginia Sweetspire is a shrub native to eastern North America, bearing dense, arching, spikes of fragrant, creamy white flowers in summer with beautiful mahogany to bright red-orange and purple fall color.
This handsome North American species is native from New Jersey south to Florida and Louisiana. It was introduced into cultivation in 1744 and was listed in Philadelphia nurseryman John Bartram's catalogue of 1783. Three years later, Thomas Jefferson, who was living in Paris at the time, requested Itea from both John Bartram, Jr. and Richard Cary of Virginia. Jefferson also included Itea virginica in his book, Notes on the State of Virginia. Its outstanding fall color is its greatest attribute, and a cultivar, 'Henry's Garnet', received the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's award of merit.
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.
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Between April and October, all house tours come with a free guided Garden Tour, or you can explore the grounds on your own with the Bloomberg Connects App
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Heirloom Seeds and Plants from the Monticello collection
Plant history in your gardens with seeds and plants from Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants.
