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Native Plant Society of Texas

Virginia Sweetspire

Itea virginica

Other common name(s):

Tassel-white, Virginia Willow

Family:

Iteaceae (Sweetspire Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

3
to
8
ft.

Spread

3
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Poor Drainage, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Bees

Maintenance

Blooms best if grown in full sun for at least part of the day. Can grow in swamps and other areas of poor drainage. Needs extra water during droughts outside of its range. Is attractive grown in mass – single plants tend to be scraggly. Spreading roots stabilize soil. Propagation: seed, semi-hardwood cutting.

Comments

Blooms March-June. A mound-shaped shrub with erect or arching branches. Leaves oblong to lance-shaped, turn yellow, red, maroon, purple through the fall. Semi-evergreen in the southern part of its range. Tiny, white flowers form 4″ drooping spires. The fruit is a capsule.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Root Division Replant the root ball in a new location (autumn is the best time to propagate by root division). Use a sharp spade and cut away a section of the root ball around the edge. 1)https://www.thespruce.com/virginia-sweetspire-for-fall-color-2132731#:~:text=Collect%20the%20small%20brown%20seed,once%20they%20are%20in%20place. 2) https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/shrub/sweetspire/#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Virginia%20Sweetspire,planting%20them%20in%20the%20landscape.
Stem Cutting Replant the stem cutting in a suitable growing site and water to moisten the soil. They will take root in about four weeks. Use sterilized pruning snips to take a stem cutting from late May to early September. 1) https://www.thespruce.com/virginia-sweetspire-for-fall-color-2132731#:~:text=Collect%20the%20small%20brown%20seed,once%20they%20are%20in%20place. 2) https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/shrub/sweetspire/#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Virginia%20Sweetspire,planting%20them%20in%20the%20landscape.
Seed No Treatment Use a well-draining potting medium and seed trays to germinate the plants indoors. Bury the seed one inch in the soil and keep it moist. When the seedling is robust, plant it in a small container and let it establish a root system. You can move the roots to the landscape once they are in place. Collect the small brown seed pods from the plant during the late summer or early fall. Open them up and remove the seeds. Store the seeds in a sealed container tucked away in the refrigerator until spring rolls around. https://www.thespruce.com/virginia-sweetspire-for-fall-color-2132731#:~:text=Collect%20the%20small%20brown%20seed,once%20they%20are%20in%20place.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason