Itea

June comes through with color in all corners of the garden. But there is one shrub that has beautiful flowers in June and exciting color in October through November. Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a native shrub that should be much more widely planted. At around five feet tall and nearly as wide, this three-season stunner adapts to sun or partial shade. It can be pruned after blooming to keep it compact, and effortlessly colors up the garden in late fall.

An old variety that is more compact than the species is Itea v. ‘Henry’s Garnet’, growing to around four feet tall. A newer, even more compact variety is ‘Little Henry’, which will make itself at home in even the smallest gardens. Hardy to USDA Zone 5.

If you don’t get around to planting any of these six this fall, put them on your “To Plant” list for next spring.