Leucothoe

( lew- KOTH - oh - ee )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs, also known as Doghobble, includes species which are great filler plants in mixed beds and borders. They need full sun in cooler climates, but can take partial shade elsewhere. Leaves are leathery and flowers are creamy and white. They are well suited to woodland gardens, and will also do well in containers. These shrubs provide year-round interest with their bright green new leaves in springtime, flowers in late spring through summer, and vibrant foliage color in fall. Use Leucothoe in mixed beds and borders in woodland gardens, as an underplanting or groundcover, for erosion control or bank stabilization, or in containers. Take care when planting this shrub in your garden, as the leaves and nectar are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Leucothoe Species and Varietals

The genus Leucothoe includes 8 species and is a member of the plant family Ericaceae. Plants in this genus are closely related to those in Gaultheria, Pieris, and Vaccinium. The best growing zones for Leucothoe vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Leucothoe axillaris (Coast Leucothoe, Swamp Dog-Laurel, Coastal Dog-Hobble)
This species grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-7 and 15-27 and is native to the southeastern United States. It has a spreading, arching habit and reaches 2-4 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide, with bronze new leaves that mature to dark green. Foliage will flush red in wintertime temperatures. Flower stems produce long flower clusters. Needs regular water. Cultivars are listed and described below:

'Compacta'
2-3 feet tall with a dense, mounding habit.

'Curly Red'
Curling, puckered leaves that emerge red and age to green.

'Dodd's Variegated'
Leaves mottled and splashed with creamy white.

'ReJoyce'
Compact with bronze-red new growth.

Leucothoe davisiae (Sierra Laurel, Western Leucothoe, Swamp Doghobble, Black Laurel)
This shrub grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5a-8b and Sunset growing zones 2, 4-7 and 15-17. It is native to Siskiyou and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The shrub grows to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide, with glossy green leaves that blush with bronze hues in winter. Flowers bloom in early summer. This species needs ample water to perform well in the garden.

Leucothoe fontanesiana (Leucothoe catesbaei, Leucothoe walteri) (Drooping Leucothoe, Mountain Doghobble, Switch Ivy, Fetter-Bush, Highland Doghobble)
This species grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-8 or Sunset growing zones 4-7 and 15-17. It is native to the eastern United States and slowly reaches 3-6 feet tall and wide at maturity. It spreads via underground stems to form thickets, but is not considered invasive or unmanageable in the garden. Branches arch gracefully and leaves turn a bronze purple color in fall. Long, drooping white flower clusters appear in the middle of spring. This plant requires moderate amounts of water. Cultivars are listed and described below:

'Nana'
This variety grows to 2 feet tall and spreads 6 feet wide. Leaves turn a bronze-red color in fall.

'Rainbow'
Reaches 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with green leaves that are marbled with cream and pink.

'Rollissoni'
3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Leaves turn a deep red in fall.

'Scarletta'
2 feet tall and 4 feet wide, with bright red new leaves that mature to green and darken to a deep red in fall and winter.

Leucothoe keiskei (Keskei Dog Hobble, Keskei Fetterbush, Japanese Leucothoe)
These shrubs are perennial evergreens, and have green foliage that is flushed with maroon to red hues when new. They can reach up to 3 feet tall at maturity, and produce bell-shaped white flowers that dangle in inflorescences from branches. Cultivars include 'Royal Ruby' (with vivid ruby red new growth to 2 feet tall), 'Halloween' ('Opstal16' to 3 feet tall with bright orange new leaves) and 'Burning Love' ('Opstal50', to 2.5 feet tall with crimson red new leaves).

Caring for leucothoe

Take care when planting this shrub in your garden, as the leaves and nectar are poisonous to humans and pets if ingested. Plant Leucothoe in a space in the landscape that receives partial to full shade; ideally, they appreciate between 4 and 6 hours of sun each day with afternoon shade. Too much direct sun can cause leaf scorch, yellowing, and overall plant stress. Leucothoe are naturally understory trees, living their lives in sheltered shady areas under larger shrubs and trees. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 4.5 and 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants perform well in consistently moist soils.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead branches as they appear. Otherwise, these shrubs are best left to their own devices, and will form a handsome shape with arching branches naturally. Leucothoe plants have a life span of between 15 and 20 years in the garden, and are considered long-lived, slow-growing broadleaf evergreens. They reach their maximum mature size in 7 to 10 years after planting.

Caring for Leucothoe in Containers
These shrubs, especially dwarf or compact varieties, can do very well in containers. Choose a pot with adequate drainage holes that is about two inches larger in diameter than the root ball or nursery pot. Fill it with a potting mix amended with perlite or organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient load and plant the shrub so that it sits about an inch or two below the rim of the container. Fill in around the outside of the root ball, allowing soil to settle but not packing it down. Apply a layer of mulch on top to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Leucothoe plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Propagation

Lucothoe shrubs are best propagated via cutting in springtime. To propagate your Doghobble shrub, follow the directions below:

Propagating Leucothoe by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 5 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.