Leucothoe is an undemanding and attractive evergreen plant shrub that multitasks in the landscape painting .
With graceful arch of bell - mold efflorescence and glossy folio , leucothoe is a pretty — and pragmatic — addition to your garden . aboriginal to portion of Asia and the easterly United States , this easy plant attracts bee and butterfly , and is drouth - tolerant and deer- and rabbit - resistant .
It also might be one of the most storeyed shrubs in your garden . In Hellenic mythology , Leucothoe , one of Apollo ’s love interest , was buried alive at her father ’s orders and transformed into a bush .
Credit:Denny Schrock
Why Leucothoe Is So Popular
historied or not , leucothoe is a garden workhorse . Since leucothoe retains moisture and keeps out weed , you’re able to expend it rather of mulch around trees or shrub , or as an evergreen plant terra firma masking orhedge . It also looks good in ashade gardenor draped overa rampart .
New growth is typically cherry bronze before turn dark green , and some selections display burgundy drop and wintertime foliage . The white or cream urn - shaped heyday clump open in late outpouring and last through early summertime .
Leucothoe bush are toxic to humans and brute .
Credit:Denny Shrock
Where to Plant Leucothoe
The ideal location for growing leucothoe is nerveless and partly shaded with acidic , moist but well - drain grease that is racy in organic matter .
Protection from winter nothingness and hot Dominicus is necessary . The shrub brook more sunlight in nerveless regions , but the soil must remain moist . wintertime hint may cause serious dieback of branches , so grow leucothoe in a spot where it is protected from the wind by larger shrubs and tree or a structure .
It grows well in light-colored - to - deep shade , making it indispensable for naturalizing in a timberland garden . Give it quad to grow and reproducible water system — leucothoe does n’t like to dry out out .
Credit: Jeff Mcnamara
Denny Schrock
How and When to Plant Leucothoe
industrial plant container - rise leucothoe in a yap as deep as the ascendant ball and about twice as broad . If the land is not alreadyrich in constituent matter , workcompostor peat moss into the grunge . After taking the plant out of the pot , disturb the roots a bit to encourage them to grow outward . Then , set it in the hole so it ’s growing at the same deepness as in the hatful .
Firm the amended filth around the roots and tamp down to off the melodic phrase sac . water system thoroughly andmulchwith shredded hardwood , bark , or pine acerate leaf , keeping the mulch a couple of inches away from the trunk .
Leucothoe Care Tips
Leucothoe is easy to give care for when its canonical needs are met .
Light
Leucothoe grows effective in illumination to deep tint . It ’s comfortable in all - day mottled shade or a patch with a few hours of morning sun followed by afternoon nicety . It ’s an ideal plant life for the shade garden , where its fall and winter leafage colors put up out . Hot afternoon sun causes the leave to burn and drop .
If you live in a humid area , check that leucothoe has at least six hours of sunlight so it ’s not prone to thumb spot .
Soil and Water
The soil should be bothwell - drainedand wet - retentive . If necessary , add lots of organic matter before planting , or arise the bush in a pot with adequate drainage holes .
Soil with high organic subject matter and a pH of 4.5 to 6.0 is best for get leucothoe . The bush tolerates neutral soil but not an alkaline one . correspond the pH of your soil , and if it ’s not below 7.0 ( electroneutral ) , amend it with a grunge acidifier before planting .
Leucothoe does n’t wish to dry out , especially before it is established . Keep the works well - water and mulch it with 2 to 3 inches oforganic mulchto prevent evaporation and keep the dirt cooler in summer . piss it regularly , aiming for about an column inch of water per calendar week during the farm time of year .
Credit: Randall Schieber
Temperature and Humidity
Leucothoe suffers from utmost temperatures — live or cold . Despite their leathery texture , the leaves are easily damaged by winter flatus and hot sun . The shrub maturate best in a cool , mild positioning where it is protect from good afternoon sun anddrying winds .
Fertilizer
Pruning
The natural substance abuse of leucothoe is so beautiful that pruning is seldom needed . However , remove any break off , diseased , or awkwardly growing branches after flower . Ifleaf spot diseaseis a trouble , thin some of the outgrowth to countenance more air circulation to aid prevent the disease . This should be done like a shot after flower as well . Do n’t prune in late summertime or gloam .
Rejuvenate older plants by cutting stem back hard to within a few inches of the crown after blossom to encourage lush raw growth .
Potting and Repotting Leucothoe
The fountain - like growth habit of leucothoe makes it a great choice for growing in a container . Do n’t lend other plants to the pot — they will be traverse by the spreading , arch base .
To grow a leucothoe in a container , pick out a sens a few inches great than the one it has been growing in and be sure it has plentiful drainage holes . expend a in high spirits - timbre potting mix and put the shrub in the raw container at the same depth it turn in the greenhouse or former container .
piss it well and check it often — do not rent the soil dry out . A container - grown leucothoe typically needs more frequent watering than one grown in the soil .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Check the potted leucothoe each springiness before development begin to see if it has outgrow its container . You may see roots come out of the drainage holes . If you suspect that the roots have become crowd , you’re able to also cautiously repeal the plant out of its pot . Increase the pot size by 2 to 3 column inch and repot with wise potting mix .
Pests and Problems
Although leucothoe has few gadfly , it is now and again afflicted with fungal folio spots . This is most coarse with plants that are stressed by underwatering or pic to wind or sun . If you keep an eye on leaf spots , tighten their rigorousness by observe the works well - watered and thinning the stems for better aura circulation .
When leucothoe is planted in poorly drained soil , it is prone to develop root decomposition . If you plant your leucothoe in a favorable website and keep it watered , you are not usually bothered by these diseases .
How to Propagate Leucothoe
Propagate leucothoe withstem cuttingstaken in early summer . Take 4- to 6 - in film editing from new increase and remove the lower leaves . Moisten high - quality potting soil and fill small container .
Using a pencil or dibble , make a gob for each cutting off . Dip the base of the shank in a rooting endocrine and berth one in each pickle , firm the dirt around it .
Keep the soil moist and in a location shade from hot sun . rootle should occur in about three months . Keep the new plant watered and in a protect spot indoors or in acold frameuntil the take after spring and then graft them into larger pots or in the ground .
Leucothoe can also be propagated by seed , but this usuallyrequires a greenhouseand mist organisation . Leucothoe seed necessitate visible radiation to germinate , and the growing medium must be keep incessantly moist .
Some varieties of leucothoe are protected by plant patent ( indicated by PP and a telephone number ) or trademark andmay not be propagated in any form . Before propagate a plant life , arrest the plant tag or search it online to ensure it is effectual to circulate .
Types of Leucothoe
The two most common aboriginal species aredrooping leucothoe(Leucothoe fontanesiana ) and its more compact congeneric , coastal leucothoe(L. axillaris ) , also known as coastal doghobble . They are native to the southeastern United States and several cultivars are useable for each .
‘Girard’s Rainbow’ Drooping Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana‘Girard ’s Rainbow ’ is a leucothoe that grow 3 to 6 feet high and wide of the mark . Its Modern outgrowth is a salient commixture of white-hot , pink , green , and fuzz , which mature to a endearing gullible and white diversification . Zone 5 - 9
‘Zeblid’ (‘Scarletta’) Drooping Leucothoe
With its bright scarlet raw ontogeny , Leucothoes fontanesiana‘Zeblid ’ ( ' Scarletta ' ) put on a fine spring show . Leaves ripen to deep leathery green and then turn bronze - Bourgogne in surrender and winter . It grows 2 feet marvellous and 3 to 4 foot wide . geographical zone 5 - 8
‘Squirt’ Compact Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris‘Squirt ’ is a compact selection of coastal leucothoe that grows to 2 feet marvelous and 2 to 3 foot wide , making it an fantabulous alternative for smaller gardens . Its pig - color in newfangled maturation register off well against the showy immature older leaves . geographical zone 5 - 9
‘ReJoyce’ Coast Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris‘ReJoyce ’ has bright ruby-red raw growth that matures to deep green before turning vino cherry-red in fall and wintertime . This selection of coastal leucothoe adds a dramatic splash of seasonal colouration to the shady garden . It grows 2 to 3 foot marvellous and 3 to 4 feet wide . It ’s a secure selection for growing in a large container . Zone 6 - 9
Leucothoe Companion Plants
Leucothoe is a great shade garden addition , adding graceful mound of color throughout the year . It grows well with other flora that choose cool , moist shadowiness and acid dirt .
Viburnum
Denny Shrock
Viburnumstend to be magniloquent than leucothoe , allowing leucothoe to supply a refined evergreen undergrowth beneath the showy genus Viburnum branches . genus Viburnum are known for colourful berries , showy bloom , howling fragrance , or brilliant foliage and stem color . Zone 2–9
Mountain Laurel
Like leucothoe , evergreenmountain laurelthrives in soil with an acid pH and systematically dampish grime high up in constitutive matter . It grows well in fond shade . In former spring , plenty laurel bears clusters of efflorescence in white , pink , and red . Zone 5–9
Rhododendron
Rhododendronsare evergreen plant life that are complemented by the lower grow dame of leafage that leucothoe supply . This Graeco-Roman subtlety garden plant loves sulfurous soil and grow best in a sheltered area in colder regions . Zone 3–10
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangeais a deciduous bush that flowers by and by than leucothoe , extending the season of blossom in the garden . These rugged shrub have sex the shadowiness and make slap-up woodland plants . It bears snowy cone - shaped flowers in summertime , but its large , scalloped folio redden in fall . Zone 5 - 9
Frequently Asked Questions
The heyday of leucothoe have a light dear - like fragrance that is attractive to bee and butterflies . However , it is faint , and you might not notice it .
Given the toxic nature of leucothoe leaves , deer seldom surf the shrub . If they do , they seldom eat enough to inflict spartan legal injury .
If your leucothoe presentation yellowing , droop leaves , the most potential problem is piteous drainage that has make root rot . If the symptoms are not too severe , you may need to moil up the plant and replant it in a spot with expert drain . A soil drench with a fungicide may also facilitate .
" Leucothoe fontanesiana . " Native Plant Trust .
“ Leucothoe . ” The British Museum .
“ Lookin ’ Good , Leucothoe ! ” Nature Center at Greenburgh .
" Leucothoe fontanesiana . " North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension .
“ Leucothoe axillaris . ”Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center .
