Itea virginica

Itea virginica is a shrub native across the southeast, found in moist forests and along streams. It prefers to grow in wet soils and part sun, but can tolerate a wide range of soils and some shade. It is tardily deciduous; the leaves turn a deep purplish red in the late fall and often persist through most of winter. It produces dense racemes of white flowers in the spring and summer that attract many pollinators. Songbirds feed on the seeds later in the year. Itea virginica is great for restoration projects and erosion control, or for use as a specimen shrub in a yard or rain garden.