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. racemosa – Fetterbush – Sweetbells – This bushy, suckering, deciduous or semi evergreen shrub from Eastern USA grows 3-5′ feet tall and wide. From upright shoots it carries oblong to ovate or elliptic, pointed glossy, finely toothed, dark green leaves, to 2 ½”’ long, which turn yellow, orange, and cherry tones in autumn. In spring and early summer it bears urn shaped, cream to white flowers, 1/4″ long, are profusely borne in upright to spreading, usually terminal racemes, to 4″ long.
Zones 6-9
