This improved form of one of our area’s most important and most fragrant natives will thrill you with a long summer bloom that features flowers that are up to double the size of the species. ‘Vanilla Spice’® is densely covered with deep, dark green, shiny foliage with the ends of the new growth topped by tall spikes of buds that can reach 4-6″ long. These buds open in early July to charm you with a sweet, spicy fragrance and a profusion of extra-large white flowers that make an impressive show. Each flower is roughly the size of a dime and acts as a magnet for butterflies adding to its colorful display. Upright branched with a rounded shape, this shrub prefers shady locations and will tolerate moist soils. Plant it in groups under high branched trees or on a wooded border for a very impressive, very fragrant summer display.