Love Child Virginia Sweetspire

Love Child Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Bailteaone')

Love Child Sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Bailteaone') is a compact, deciduous native shrub offering fragrant blooms in summer and vibrant fall foliage. Selected for its dense habit and reliable performance, this cultivar provides multi-season interest with upright white flower spikes, clean summer foliage, and fiery red autumn tones. Its refined form and adaptability make it ideal for borders, foundations, and naturalized plantings.

Distinctive Features

'Love Child' matures at 2.5 to 3 feet tall and wide, with a tidy, mounding shape. In early summer, it produces upright, lightly fragrant white flower spikes that attract pollinators. The dark green foliage stays neat through the season before turning rich red and burgundy in fall. Unlike some older selections, this variety is more compact and less prone to spreading aggressively, making it easy to maintain in small spaces.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil
• Water: Moderate; tolerates wet soils and brief flooding
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5�9

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Upright blooms and brilliant fall color create multi-season visual interest
• Foundation Plantings: Tidy shape fits well near buildings and walkways
• Pollinator Gardens: Flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies
• Mass Plantings: Excellent for low borders or naturalized drifts
• Rain Gardens: Thrives in moist soils and manages runoff effectively

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist during establishment
• Pruning: Prune after flowering to shape or rejuvenate if needed
• Fertilizing: Use a balanced fertilizer in spring for healthy growth
• Mulching: Helps retain soil moisture and reduce weed competition
• Deer Resistance: Typically avoided by deer

Why Choose Love Child Sweetspire?

• Compact Form: Naturally tidy shape fits well into smaller garden designs
• Fragrant Blooms: Summer flowers attract pollinators and add seasonal charm
• Brilliant Fall Color: Consistent red tones bring late-season beauty
• Native Adaptability: Thrives in a wide range of soil and light conditions
• Focal Point: Offers four-season impact in a low-maintenance, space-saving form

Itea virginica 'Bailteaone' Love Child Sweetspire delivers compact beauty, native performance, and standout fall color�an excellent choice for modern landscapes that value structure, pollinator support, and easy care.