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🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🌿 Sweet Almond (Aloysia virgata) — Live Plant
Ships in a 1-gallon pot
Fragrant, Fast-Growing, and Pollinator-Friendly! 🌸🦋
Bring a cloud of sweetness to your garden with the Sweet Almond (Aloysia virgata) — a beloved Florida-friendly shrub that fills the air with a scent so rich, it’s often compared to strawberry shortcake or gardenia. This large, vigorous variety produces long white flower spikes from summer through frost, attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees in abundance. Whether planted as a specimen, hedge, or pollinator magnet, this beauty transforms any sunny space into a fragrant oasis.
🌿 Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Aloysia virgata |
| Common Name | Sweet Almond Bush, Almond Verbena |
| Plant Type | Fragrant flowering shrub / small ornamental tree |
| Sale Size (Ships In) | 1-gallon container |
| Mature Size (Unpruned) | 10–15 ft tall × 6–8 ft wide |
| Mature Size (With Pruning) | Easily maintained 6–8 ft tall × 4–6 ft wide |
| Growth Habit | Upright, arching, airy canopy |
| USDA Zones | 8a–11 |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun (6+ hours daily) |
| Cold Hardiness | Root-hardy to around 20°F; may freeze back in Zone 8 but regrows |
| Soil Requirements | Well-draining; adapts to sand, loam, or clay |
| Water Needs | Moderate; drought-tolerant once established |
| Spacing | 6–10 ft apart, depending on landscape use |
🌸 Flower & Fragrance
- Bloom Season: Summer through frost — nearly continuous in warm climates
- Flower Type: Long, elegant white flower spikes up to 8 inches long
- Fragrance: Intense almond-vanilla perfume; some describe it as “strawberry shortcake” or “strong gardenia”
- Pollinator Appeal: Extremely high — bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds can’t resist
- Edibility: Ornamental only — not related to the edible almond tree
🌱 Top Benefits & Uses
- Fragrant Showstopper: Creates a wave of sweet perfume through your landscape
- Pollinator Magnet: Provides abundant nectar for beneficial insects and hummingbirds
- Low Maintenance: Fast-growing and drought-tolerant once established
- Versatile: Ideal for large borders, hedges, screens, or as a flowering specimen tree
- Florida-Friendly: Thrives in sandy soils and full sun; naturally pest-resistant
- Fast Recovery: Regrows quickly even after winter dieback
🌿 Growth Habit & Landscape Use
The Sweet Almond grows into a large, open shrub or small ornamental tree with slender, arching branches covered in lance-shaped green leaves. Its airy structure creates an elegant backdrop, while long flower spikes cascade with white, fragrant blooms that shimmer in sunlight. Perfect for pollinator gardens, mixed borders, or sunny corners, it’s a true sensory experience for both you and your garden visitors.
🌎 Ideal Growing Regions
- Zones 9–11: Performs beautifully as an evergreen or semi-evergreen flowering shrub.
- Zone 8: May die back in cold snaps but reliably resprouts in spring.
- Cooler Regions (Zones 7 & below): Best grown in large containers and overwintered indoors near a bright window.
🌾 History & Origin
Native to northern Argentina and parts of South America, Aloysia virgata was named in honor of Queen Maria Louisa of Spain. The name “virgata” translates to “slender-branched,” describing the elegant form of its flowering stems. This plant became popular in the southern U.S. for its tropical scent, easy culture, and pollinator appeal, earning the title of 2008 Florida Plant of the Year by the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association.
🌿 Best Practices for Planting & Care
Where to Plant
- Choose a full-sun location with well-draining soil.
- Plant near patios, windows, or walkways to enjoy its scent.
- Avoid shaded or consistently wet spots.
How to Plant (GreenDreams “High & Tight” Method)
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and just as deep.
- Set the plant slightly above ground level for drainage.
- Backfill with native soil, compost, and biochar blend, packing firmly to remove air pockets.
- Water deeply to settle the soil.
- Apply 2–3 inches of hardwood mulch, keeping it 2 inches away from the trunk.
Watering
- First 2 weeks: Water daily.
- Weeks 3–8: Water 2–3 times weekly.
- After establishment: Deep soak weekly or less — this plant is drought-tolerant once mature.
Pruning
- Flowers form on new growth, so prune after each bloom cycle to encourage reblooming.
- In cold climates, cut back dead wood in late winter; it will resprout vigorously in spring.
Fertilizing
- Feed lightly in spring with organic compost or slow-release fertilizer.
- Avoid over-fertilizing — too much nitrogen reduces blooms.
🪴 Container Growing Tips
- Container Size: Minimum 14–18 inches in diameter; use well-draining potting soil.
- Placement: Full sun outdoors; can be overwintered in bright indoor locations.
- Maintenance: Trim lightly through summer to manage height and encourage branching.
- Pests: Rarely troubled outdoors; check for whiteflies or mites indoors.
🌻 Troubleshooting Guide
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Few or no blooms | Too much shade or fertilizer | Move to full sun; reduce nitrogen feeding |
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering or poor drainage | Improve drainage; water less often |
| Sticky leaves / white residue | Whiteflies or aphids | Treat with organic insecticidal soap |
| Sparse growth | Lack of pruning | Lightly trim after flowering for fullness |
🌼 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal For:
- Homeowners in Zones 8–11
- Gardeners seeking fragrance + pollinators
- Large landscapes or hedges
- Low-maintenance Florida-friendly gardens
❌ Not Ideal For:
- Deep shade or overly wet soils
- Northern climates without freeze protection
🌸 Sweet Almond vs. Dwarf Sweet Almond
Choosing the Perfect Fit for Your Fragrant Garden 🌿🦋
| 🌿 Feature | 🌳 Sweet Almond (Standard) | 🌼 Dwarf Sweet Almond (Compact) |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Aloysia virgata | Aloysia virgata |
| Plant Type | Large fragrant shrub / small tree | Compact, rounded shrub |
| 🌞 Sun Requirements | Full sun (6+ hrs daily) | Full sun (6+ hrs daily) |
| 📏 Mature Size (Unpruned) | 10–15 ft tall × 6–8 ft wide | 4–5 ft tall × 3–4 ft wide |
| ✂️ Manageable Height (With Pruning) | 6–8 ft | 3–4 ft |
| ⚡ Growth Habit | Upright, arching, open canopy | Dense, bushy, and compact |
| 🌡️ USDA Zones | 8a–11 | 9–11 |
| ❄️ Cold Hardiness | Root-hardy to ~20°F; may die back in 8–9 | Root-hardy to ~25°F; best in warm zones |
| 🌸 Bloom Season | Summer through frost | Spring through frost |
| 🌺 Fragrance | Sweet almond–vanilla; “strawberry shortcake” aroma | Identical scent, slightly lighter intensity |
| 🐝 Pollinator Appeal | Exceptional—draws bees, butterflies & hummingbirds | Excellent—perfect for small pollinator gardens |
| 🪴 Container Suitability | Large containers (10–20 gal or half-barrel) | Small to mid containers (3–7 gal) |
| 🌾 Soil Needs | Well-drained; tolerant of clay, sand, loam | Well-drained; prefers sandy or loamy |
| 💧 Water Needs | Moderate; drought-tolerant once established | Moderate; drought-tolerant once established |
| 🌿 Maintenance Level | Low—occasional pruning after bloom | Very low—easy to maintain year-round |
| 🌳 Landscape Use | Large borders, hedges, or focal point | Patios, courtyards, small gardens |
| 🏡 Indoor/Container Use | Patio or courtyard planter | Ideal for pots, balconies, or entryways |
| 🌻 Bloom Spike Length | Up to 8 inches | 4–6 inches |
| 🏆 Special Note | FNGLA 2008 Plant of the Year | Compact form of FNGLA favorite |
| Ideal Buyer | Homeowners with larger yards or pollinator gardens | Gardeners with limited space or patio gardens |
🪴 Summary — Which One Fits Your Garden?
🌳 Sweet Almond (Standard):
- Best for larger spaces, landscapes, and natural hedges
- Creates dramatic vertical impact and strong scent coverage
- Ideal for garden backdrops, pollinator corridors, and borders
🌼 Dwarf Sweet Almond:
- Best for compact gardens, patios, and container growing
- Offers the same intoxicating fragrance in a smaller package
- Perfect for balconies, courtyards, or entryways
🌸 Shipping Details
We ship nationwide every Monday via UPS Ground from Florida.
- Best shipping regions: Florida, the Southeast, and Texas.
- Nationwide shipping available: Plants may need extra recovery time in northern or western states.
- Seasonal advisory: Buyer discretion is recommended during extreme heat or cold.
- GreenDreams is not responsible for temperature damage during transit.
Upon arrival:
- Unbox immediately, water well, and allow the plant to acclimate in bright shade for 2–3 days before moving to full sun.
🏡 Available Locally & Online
Visit GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
📍 18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
🕘 Tue–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM
Shop in person or order your Sweet Almond (Aloysia virgata) online for nationwide delivery — and let this fragrant, pollinator-loving plant transform your garden into a sensory paradise. 🌿🌸
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
