About this product

Leucothoe mix – 5 Litre

Leucothoe spp. and cultivars

5 litre pot

Plant Highlights: Evergreen foliage • Rich autumn and winter colour • Thrives in partial to full shade • Acid-loving ericaceous shrub • Excellent foliage contrast

Overview

Leucothoe is an evergreen, acid-loving shrub grown primarily for its glossy foliage and changing seasonal colour. This three-variety selection offers different leaf colours and markings, with many Leucothoe cultivars developing increasingly rich red, bronze, burgundy or maroon tones as temperatures fall in autumn and winter. Small white, bell- or urn-shaped flowers may also appear in spring, depending on the variety.

Its leafy, often bushy or arching growth is particularly useful for bringing colour and texture into shaded ericaceous borders and woodland-style planting. Leucothoe also combines naturally with rhododendrons, azaleas and other acid-loving plants, and suitable varieties can be grown in containers filled with ericaceous compost.

Why We Love It

• Foliage colour often intensifies during autumn and winter, when many other shrubs are quieter.

• Evergreen leaves maintain useful structure through the colder months.

• Performs particularly well in the partial or full shade that suits many woodland-style gardens.

• Its preference for acidic soil makes it a natural companion for other ericaceous shrubs.

• Different varieties offer contrasting foliage colours, markings and growth habits.

Plant Details

Growing Guide

Position

Plant in partial to full shade, where the evergreen foliage can develop without exposure to hot, drying conditions. A sheltered woodland-style position works particularly well. Allow enough space for the individual variety's mature habit.

Watering

Water thoroughly after planting and maintain reliable soil moisture while the shrub establishes. Established plants should be watered during prolonged dry spells rather than allowed to dry out completely. Check container-grown plants more frequently during warm or windy weather, as their compost loses moisture faster.

Soil

Leucothoe is an ericaceous shrub and is best grown in acidic, humus-rich soil that remains moist while providing suitable drainage. Leaf mould and other suitable organic matter can help maintain a cool, moisture-retentive root environment. Where garden soil is alkaline, grow the plant in a container filled with peat-free ericaceous compost.

Hardiness and Winter Care

Hardiness varies with the exact cultivar, although many Leucothoe grown for gardens are hardy shrubs. Good soil conditions remain important through Irish winters: keep the roots moist but avoid unsuitable stagnant or badly compacted ground. Container-grown plants have more exposed roots and benefit from a sheltered position during periods of severe cold.

Routine Care

Leucothoe generally needs little pruning. Remove dead or damaged growth and lightly tidy misplaced shoots when required rather than routinely cutting the shrub back hard. Maintain an organic mulch over the root area to conserve moisture, keeping it clear of the stems.

Feeding

Where feeding is required, use a fertiliser intended for rhododendrons, azaleas and other ericaceous plants. Container-grown plants are particularly likely to benefit during the growing season; follow the fertiliser instructions rather than overfeeding.

Perfect For

• Shaded and partially shaded ericaceous borders

• Woodland-style planting with rhododendrons and azaleas

• Bringing evergreen foliage colour into darker garden areas

• Autumn and winter foliage displays

• Containers filled with ericaceous compost where garden soil is unsuitable

Good to Know

This product contains three Leucothoe varieties rather than one named cultivar. Foliage colour and markings, growth habit, flowering, mature height and spread, and the intensity of autumn and winter colouring vary across the current in-store selection.

Product Information

• Supplied in a 5 litre pot

• 23cm pot diameter

• Selection of three Leucothoe varieties