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. fontanesiana ‘Scarletta’ – L. catebaei of gardens – L. walteri – Drooping Leucothe – Fetter Bush – Pearl Flower – Switch Ivy – This upright, evergreen shrub grows 3-6′ feet tall and 10′ feet wide. From arching branches it carries oval, long pointed, toothed, leathery, hairless leaves, 2 ½-6″ long, dark red-purple then dark green and glossy above, paler below in summer, bronze in winter. In spring it bears bell shaped, white or pink flowers, 1/4″ long, in axillary racemes, 1 ½-2 ½” long.
Zones 5-8
