Virginia Sweetspire is an uncommon medium-sized shrub of streambanks and other moist habitats. Flowering in late spring, the inflorescence is a showy terminal raceme of whitish flowers. Other common names include Virginia-willow and Tassel-white. Virginia Sweetspire is somewhat similar to Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) in flower, but blooms much earlier (in May, August for Coastal Sweet Pepperbush) and has unfragrant flowers, while those of Coastal Sweet Pepperbush are extremely fragrant.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

In leaf, Virginia Sweetspire could be mistaken for Coastal Fetterbush (Eubotrys racemosa), which is more common.

Penny's Bend, Durham Co., NC 8/24/08.

Croatan National Forest, Jones Co., NC 4/14/07.

Jones Co., NC 4/14/07.

Virginia Sweetspire often grows along streambanks.

Jones Co., NC 4/14/07.

Bark detail.

Penny's Bend, Durham Co., NC 8/24/08.

Fairly common as an ornamental, cultivated for its showy flowers as well as its brilliant fall color. The photo is of the cultivar 'Henry's Garnet'. Relationships with other genera are unclear - formerly lumped in the Saxifragaceae, now placed in either the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry family) or the Iteaceae (consisting only of the 20 or so species of Itea, which mostly grow in Asia).

Chapel Hill, NC 5/14/03.