Itea virginica 'Little Henry’

Itea virginica 'Little Henry': Fragrant White Spires and Brilliant Fall Colour

Itea virginica 'Little Henry' is a compact sweetspire that brings fragrance, texture, and multi-season beauty to the garden. In early summer, arching stems carry bottlebrush-like clusters of tiny white flowers that perfume the air and brighten part-shade plantings. Glossy green foliage stays dense and handsome through summer, then turns rich shades of red, orange, and burgundy in fall. Naturally tidy and well-shaped, it’s an easy shrub to place where you want reliable colour without a large footprint.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 2–3’
• Spread: 3–4’
• Flower Colour: White
• Flowering Period: Early summer
• Foliage: Glossy green, turning red, orange, and burgundy in fall
• Sunlight Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates wetter sites and appreciates organic matter

Uses and Benefits: Ideal for foundation plantings, mixed shrub borders, rain-garden edges, and woodland-style gardens where consistent moisture is common. Its fragrant flowers support pollinators, and its fall colour adds a strong late-season finish that pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses and evergreens. Use it in small groups for a soft, flowing effect, or as a low anchor shrub where you want season-long structure and dependable colour.

Care Instructions: Water regularly during the first season to establish, then maintain even moisture during hot, dry stretches for best growth and flowering. Mulch helps conserve moisture and supports healthy roots. Prune lightly after flowering if shaping is needed, or in early spring to remove winter damage and encourage fresh growth. A spring top-dressing of compost helps keep foliage lush and supports strong flowering and fall colour.

History: Itea virginica is a North American native shrub valued for fragrant blooms and standout fall colour, especially in moisture-retentive soils. 'Little Henry' was selected as a compact form that delivers the same bottlebrush flowers and autumn colour in a size that fits smaller gardens and more refined landscape designs.

Final Thoughts: For gardeners who want fragrance in early summer and a fiery fall finale in one compact shrub, Little Henry is a reliable, beautiful choice that earns its space all season long.