Love Child® Virginia Sweetspire
Images courtesy of Bailey Nurseries
A Small, Compact, Versatile Shrub
This native cultivar has it all! Pretty white flowers, fragrance, and brilliant fall color.
Love Child® Virginia Sweetspire. Image courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.
Love Child® sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Bailteaone’) is a cultivated variety of Virginia sweetspire, a deciduous shrub native to the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Love Child® was selected for having a compact, smaller size and a rounder, tighter shape than the straight species, making it the perfect choice for small garden spaces and foundation plantings. From late spring until early summer, Love Child® flowers heavily, with drooping racemes of small, fragrant white flowers dangling from gracefully arching branches. Blooms cover the entire shrub in May and June, resembling small bursts of fireworks and attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators. The flowers mature into seed capsules and dry on the plant, persisting through winter and providing food for the birds. Autumn leaves are a deep burgundy color, bringing drama and interest to the fall landscape. Love Child® is a low-maintenance, versatile shrub that is relatively unbothered by pests and diseases.
Love Child® sweetspire requires consistently moist, fertile soil. It grows in zones 5-9, in full sun to partial shade (3-6+ hours of direct sunlight per day) and will tolerate wet soil and occasional short periods of standing water. According to Rutgers University’s list of Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance, deer “seldom severely damage” Virginia sweetspire and it is considered to be a deer resistant shrub. However, keep in mind that deer will browse almost any plant when nothing else is available…sigh.
Love Child® Sweetspire is a Nativar
What is a nativar? A nativar is a cultivated variety of a native straight species plant. A nativar has been selectively bred to have specific desirable traits, like a certain shape, size, flower color, or improved disease resistance.
Love Child® sweetspire is a nativar. It is a cultivated variety of the native straight species plant Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), a shrub that grows naturally in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.
Love Child® is the result of a controlled cross between Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ and Itea virginica ‘Sarah Eve’. By crossing these two cultivars, plant breeders have created a sweetspire that is smaller, more compact and more floriferous than the native straight species. It also has a deeper burgundy red fall color and exhibits more vigor than the native straight species.
By crossing these two cultivars, breeders have combined the best attributes of both parent plants into the Love Child® sweetspire, creating a desirable choice for gardeners who want a high performance, small Itea virginica shrub.
How to Plant and Grow Love Child® Sweetspire
Image courtesy of Bailey Nurseries
Location: Love Child® sweetspire prefers a partial to full sun location (3-6+ hours of sunlight per day) and consistently moist, rich, well-draining soil. Sweetspire will struggle in hot, dry sites or heavy clay soil - consider planting a panicle hydrangea in these areas instead.
Planting: Plant Love Child® in spring or fall, giving the shrub time to establish before the onset of extreme hot or cold weather. Space plants 18-24 inches apart on center to allow for proper air circulation; water deeply immediately after planting.
Watering: Water newly planted sweetspire regularly to help establish the roots. Love Child® prefers consistent moisture and will only tolerate short periods of drought after a 2-3 year establishment period (for watering guidance, see “How to Water Your Plants”)
Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around the shrub to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Make sure the mulch does not touch the base of the plant.
Fertilizer: In early spring, apply a balanced, slow release shrub fertilizer to the soil around sweetspire, following the manufacturer’s instructions. You can also apply a layer of compost, leaf mold, or Leafgro® to enhance soil health and structure.
Pruning: Love Child® sweetspire does not require any pruning, other than to remove dead or damaged branches. If you decide to prune your shrub, do so immediately after flowering so that next year’s flower buds are not disturbed. If plants become scraggly with age, they can be hard pruned back to 12 inches.
Insects and diseases: Sweetspire does not suffer from any significant pests or diseases. Leaf spot may be an occasional problem.
The vibrant fall color of Love Child® Virginia sweetspire. Image courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.
Landscaping Ideas for Love Child® Sweetspire
A row of Love Child® sweetspire softens the hard edges of a rock wall and creates visual interest. Image courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.
Japanese barberry replacement: Love Child® sweetspire is a great alternative to the invasive Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii).
Foundation planting: The low, rounded shape of Love Child® sweetspire makes it the perfect choice for foundation plantings.
Water’s edge: Plant Love Child® sweetspire alongside a stream, creek, or pond, where its graceful arching flowers mimic the movement and flow of water.
Small gardens: Love Child® is the perfect choice for small gardens and yards. It will maintain its compact rounded shape and does not grow more than 4 feet tall and wide.
Wet areas: Virginia sweetspire loves well-draining, moist soil and thrives in damp, low areas. It can tolerate brief periods of standing water, making it appropriate to use in rain gardens and bioswales.
Border planting: Love Child® sweetspire can fill in the middle spaces of the garden border, in between low-growing perennials and taller shrubs or small trees.
Woodland garden: Naturalize Love Child® sweetspire in an open woodland garden, where it thrives in moist, rich soil and partial shade.
Butterfly or pollinator garden: Bees, butterflies and other pollinators flock to the flowers of Virginia sweetspire. It is also a caterpillar host plant, providing crucial real estate where butterflies can lay their eggs.
Edging: Soften the hard edges of patios, walkways, sidewalks and retaining walls with a row of Love Child® sweetspire shrubs.
Mass planting: Plant a mass group of Love Child® sweetspire shrubs alongside a fence, in a garden bed, or to stabilize a wet slope.
Fire pit landscaping: Plant a row of Love Child® sweetspire around the fire pit, where you can appreciate the deep burgundy fall color during autumn gatherings around the fire.
Planting Companions for Love Child® Sweetspire:
Winterberry hollies (Ilex verticillata): This deciduous holly with small leaves and red berries makes the perfect native planting companion for Love Child® sweetspire. Both shrubs offer food for the birds and nectar for pollinators. Be sure to plant both male and female holly shrubs.
Bluebird mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’): Mountain hydrangeas and sweetspire both thrive in moist, rich soil and partial shade.
Hybrid witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia): The deep yellow fall color of the hybrid witch hazel contrasts beautifully with the deep burgundy leaves of Love Child® sweetspire.
Ruby Slippers oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’): Ruby Slippers and Love Child® both have amazing burgundy fall color. Combine them for an unforgettable autumn show!
Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata): The sun-loving panicle hydrangea looks great with Love Child® sweetspire when massed together in a sunny, open area. Both of these shrubs like to have consistent moisture.
Ivory Halo dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’): The red twigs and cream and green variegated leaves of this dogwood shrub contrast nicely with Love Child®.
Love Child® Sweetspire Potential Problems
Few to no flowers: If your Virginia sweetspire shrub is not flowering, insufficient sunlight or improper pruning are the most likely causes. Ensure that the shrub receives at least 3 hours of full, direct sunlight per day, and make sure pruning is done immediately after flowering has finished. If the shrub was pruned any time after late summer, then it’s likely the flower buds were cut off. Leave it alone and it will rebloom again next year, and remember - Love Child® is a small, compact, nicely shaped shrub and doesn’t need any pruning.
Leggy Growth: Full shade is insufficient for Virginia sweetspire and will cause the plant to become leggy and loosely shaped as it tries to reach for more light. Try moving it to a brighter location.
Drought Stress: Sweetspire likes consistently moist soil. Prolonged hot, dry periods will stress the plant, particularly during the first 1-2 years after planting. It’s time to monitor your drought status and increase the amount of watering and attention you are giving to your Love Child® shrub.
Poor Drainage: Sweetspire will tolerate short periods of standing water and can be used in rain gardens and bioswales, but prolonged exposure to waterlogged conditions will suffocate the roots and lead to a wilting shrub with blackened leaves. Move the shrub to a location where the soil drains more quickly.
Pests: Love Child® is generally unbothered by insect pests. Aphids, spider mites and scale insects may cause occasional problems.
Mechanical Injury: Damage from lawn mowers, trimmers, or heavy foot traffic can harm the plant.
How to Water Love Child® Sweetspire
You may be wondering how often or how long to water your Love Child® Sweetspire shrub. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, because the watering requirements for each garden can vary significantly, based on several different factors. This absence of a universal watering guideline can be exasperating for gardeners! Being attentive to your sweetspire shrub and the environmental factors impacting it will enable you to adjust your watering schedule accordingly, ultimately promoting healthier growth and overall gardening success. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
The type of plant. Different plants have different preferences for soil moisture, so make sure you understand the unique needs of each type of plant you grow in your garden. Love Child® sweetspire loves consistently moist soil. Keep an eye on the soil around your Love Child® sweetspire, and don’t be surprised if you need to water it more frequently than other plants in your yard.
The stage of growth. Newly planted garden plants need lots of water, generally more than the beginning gardener anticipates. It takes time for a young plant to establish and develop an advanced root system that can absorb enough water to meet its needs. Make sure you are available to water a newly planted Love Child® sweetspire frequently and deeply, and that you are able to carve out time in your schedule for this recurring commitment. As the shrub matures and growth slows, you can water it less frequently.
The weather: Temperature, rainfall, humidity, drying winds, cloud cover, and seasonal changes all play a part in determining how often you should water your Love Child® sweetspire. Developing a flexible watering schedule that takes into account ever-changing weather conditions will help you to provide the right amount of water to keep your Love Child® sweetspire shrub thriving. And do not rely on vague forecasts of “evening thunderstorms” to provide the water your plants need - frequently, storms don’t develop or do not provide a deep enough watering.
The type of soil. The type of soil in your garden plays a crucial role in determining the frequency of watering. Sandy soil drains fast and tends to dry out quickly; clay soil retains water for longer periods of time and can become waterlogged. Loamy soil strikes a balance between water retention and drainage. If you are not sure what type of soil you have, do this easy at-home soil test with water, soil and a spatula.
The light exposure. Plants grown in full sun tend to dry out more quickly than plants in shade. Increased levels of sunlight and temperature will contribute to higher rates of water loss through the leaves. And yes, it’s fine to water your Love Child® sweetspire on a sunny day - you will not “burn” the leaves or harm the plant in any way, although you may lose some extra water to evaporation. Watering in the morning or evening is more water-efficient, but with busy life schedules, water at the time of day that is most convenient for you!
The topography. The way water flows and collects on your property due to its topography plays a vital role in determining the water distribution and absorption patterns in your garden. In areas where the land is sloping, water flows downwards and the soil does not retain as much water. Conversely, low-lying areas and depressions are prone to water accumulation. Terraced areas and raised beds will dry out quickly, as will pots and planters. Observing the movement of water across your property during a storm can offer valuable insights to help you better decide when and how much to water your sweetspire shrub.
The competition. Competition from tree roots and dense plantings can significantly influence how often you need to water your garden. Trees, especially mature ones with extensive root systems, will compete with other nearby plants for water. This can be particularly problematic for moisture-loving sweetspire and you will need to compensate by watering more frequently. Dense plantings, where plants are closely spaced together, can also create a competitive environment.
The heat. Radiated heat from various sources, such as driveways, patios, walkways, and sidewalks, can contribute to increased evaporation and water loss in your garden. Areas exposed to radiated heat tend to dry out quickly and may need more frequent waterings than other areas of your yard. Sweetspire planted in this type of hot, dry environment will need extra deep watering sessions.