Pollinator plant

Virginia sweetspire

Itea virginica

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Common names

13 names · 8 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (7)
Dutch
  • Bloemwilg
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 北美鼠刺[4]
Czech
  • itea virginská[4]
Japanese
  • コバノズイナ[4]
Polish
  • Itea wirginijska[4]
Russian
  • Цирилла кистецветная[4]
Slovak
  • itea virgínska[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Itea virginica — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Virginia Sweetspire — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Itea virginica.
  • Itea — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Itea virginica.
  • Virginia Sweet Spire — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Itea virginica.
  • Virginia Willow — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Itea virginica.
[2] Itea virginica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Virginia sweetspire — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • pepperidge — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • Virginia-willow — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Itea virginica ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Virginia sweetspire — VernacularName.tsv, line 174111; taxon 3QDYQ.
[4] Itea virginica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Virginia sweetspire — results[15].names[1]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • pepperidge — results[15].names[3]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • Virginia-willow — results[15].names[2]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • itea virginská — results[15].names[4]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • コバノズイナ — results[15].names[5]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • 北美鼠刺 — results[15].names[6]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • Цирилла кистецветная — results[15].names[7]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • Itea wirginijska — results[15].names[8]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
  • itea virgínska — results[15].names[9]; taxon id 83152; Itea virginica.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Itea virginica is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Iteaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
1.22–2.44 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Arching; Clumping; Erect; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Frequent Standing Water; Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
C. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a shrub. It flowers from July to August.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Itea virginica — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 452063; ID 3QDYQ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 452063; ID 3QDYQ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Itea virginica — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Itea virginica — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 812830; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1459660, 1459661, 1459662, 1459663, 1459664, 1459665, 1459666, 1459667, 1459668, 1459669, 1459670, 1459671, 1459672, 1459673, 1459674, 1459675, 1459676, 1459677, 1459678, 1459679, 1459680, 1459681

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.