Description
Leucothoe –
There are about 50 species of deciduous, semi evergreen, or evergreen shrubs in this genus. They occur in woodland, thickets, swamps, and streambanks in Madagascar, the Himalayas, Eastern Asia and North and South America. They are grown for their handsome foliage, which are alternate, very variably in shape, simple, often glossy, and leathery dark green or variegated leaves (the deciduous species color well in autumn) and for their bell to urn shaped, usually white sometimes pink flowers, borne in terminal or axillary racemes or panicles. The fruits are small capsules containing many seeds. Effective in a woodland garden.
Grow in humus rich, reliably moist, acidic soil in deep or partial shade.
Prone to anthracnose spot, tar spot, powdery mildew, leaf gall, lace bugs, and scale insects.
L. keiskei – This clump forming, evergreen shrub from Japan grows 2-3′ feet tall and wide. From upright to prostrate shoots it carries narrowly ovate to ovate-lance-shaped, long tipped, glossy, shallow toothed, dark green leaves, to 3 ½” long, red when young. In mid summer it bears urn shaped white flowers, to ½” long, are borne nodding racemes, to 2″ long.
Zones 6-8
