Leucothoe (dog hobble) is a shrub that's grown primarily for its glossy foliage. Its oval leaves, which can be one colour or marbled, come in shades of green, red and purple, with some varieties turning bronze in autumn. Leucothoe is a great shade garden addition, adding graceful mounds of color throughout the year.

Understanding the Context

It grows well with other plants that prefer cool, moist shade and acid soil. It is native to the Southeast and grows 3 to 6 feet tall. This plant is naturally found in very wet places such as ravines and streambanks and is frequently associated with Rhododendron maximum thickets. The genus name Leucothoe comes from Greek mythology, being one of the maidens loved by Apollo.

Key Insights

One of the more pleasant broadleaf evergreen shrubs is leucothoe. Leucothoe plants are native to the United States and provide trouble free attractive foliage and flowers. It is a very versatile plant and can grow in almost any soil. Leucothoe Growing Conditions - Tips On The Care Of Leucothoe Plants ... Leucothoe is a genus of shade-loving, evergreen shrubs prized for their graceful arching form, glossy foliage, and multi-season interest.

Final Thoughts

Valued for their tolerance of damp and acidic soils, Leucothoe shrubs are an excellent choice for woodland gardens, shady slopes, and beneath larger trees. Scarlet-purple new leaves burst from a tidy, low, compact mound of shiny deep green foliage in spring. The entire shrub becomes reddish bronze in fall. A beautiful, natural woodland companion to rhododendrons and ferns, and a superb groundcover. Evergreen. Leucothoe is a genus of about 6 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to Asia and the Americas.

[1] Many species have the common name doghobble.