{"product_id":"coastal-leucothoe","title":"Coastal Leucothoe","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"pd-title-head\"\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLeucothoe axillaris\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOverview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shaded foundation plantings, woodland gardens, mass plantings beneath trees, low evergreen borders, shaded slopes and bank edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBenefits:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glossy evergreen foliage that flushes bronze in spring and deepens to burgundy through winter, arching stems that layer into a continuous low mass, and dependable performance in the dry shade under established canopy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6–9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun:\u003c\/strong\u003e Partial Sun\/Shade, Heavy Shade\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife Cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mounding, Arching — layered arching stems from a low spreading base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e White\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Green, with Bronze new growth and Burgundy winter tones\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–4 feet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–6 feet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mid to late spring\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSummary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvergreen, native, shade-loving, and low enough to sit under a window. That combination is rarer than it sounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCoastal leucothoe builds a low, wide, layered mound of arching stems clothed in narrow glossy leaves. New growth emerges bronze in spring, matures to a deep lustrous green through summer, then takes on burgundy and wine tones through the cold months — so the plant changes character three times a year without ever going bare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn mid to late spring, small white urn-shaped flowers hang in short racemes tucked along the undersides of the stems. They are subtle rather than showy, closer to lily-of-the-valley than to an azalea, and they draw early bees. The real work of this shrub is textural: it fills the difficult band between a tree canopy overhead and bare ground below, where turf will not grow and most evergreens sulk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, where it grows along shaded stream banks and in damp woods. That origin explains its two requirements — shade and acidity — and its two strengths, which are a genuine tolerance for root competition and a tendency to layer where stems touch soil, closing a spaced planting into one continuous mass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDeer generally pass it by, which is not a small consideration for a plant that is going under trees at the back of a property.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal Leucothoe Care\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in partial to heavy shade. Full afternoon sun scorches the foliage and bleaches the winter color; morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, and deep shade is well tolerated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSoil must be acidic, organic, and well drained while staying evenly moist. Amend heavy or lean ground with composted bark or leaf mold at planting, and mulch with pine fines or shredded leaves. Alkaline soil causes yellowing and decline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater consistently. The root system is fine and shallow, so it dries out faster than its size suggests — particularly under trees, where established roots compete for every drop. Mulch is essential rather than decorative here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeed lightly in early spring with an acid-forming \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/products\/slow-release-fertilizer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eslow release fertilizer\u003c\/a\u003e if the foliage looks pale. In good woodland soil it usually needs nothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrune in early spring after the coldest weather has passed. Remove any winter-damaged stems at ground level rather than shearing the tops, which ruins the layered habit. Cutting a few of the oldest canes to the base each year keeps the plant full. Good air movement helps limit leaf spot in humid summers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSize\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat Size is the Coastal Leucothoe for Sale Online?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur Coastal Leucothoe ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/pages\/contact\" title=\"Contact Almanac Planting Co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003econtact us\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow Large Does Coastal Leucothoe Grow?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExpect roughly 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, wider than tall as it matures and layers. Growth is slow, so allow several seasons to fill in. Space 3 feet on center for a solid evergreen mass beneath trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAdditional Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are some common names for this plant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe most widely used names for this plant are:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoastal Leucothoe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoast Leucothoe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDog Hobble\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFetterbush\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Dog Hobble\" refers to the dense tangled stems, which historically slowed hunting dogs pushing through thickets of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it stay evergreen through winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The foliage is retained year-round and shifts toward burgundy and wine tones in cold weather rather than dropping. In the colder end of its range, exposure to winter sun and wind can cause some bronzing or leaf burn, which is another reason to site it in shade. More year-round options are in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/collections\/evergreen-plants\"\u003eEvergreen Plants\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it grow under trees?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is its best use. It tolerates both shade and root competition from established canopy, which is an uncommon combination, and its layering habit lets a spaced planting close into a continuous evergreen groundcover over time. It does need consistent moisture and mulch to succeed there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it deer resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDeer typically leave it alone, which makes it useful along wooded property edges where browse pressure is highest. More reliably unbrowsed options are grouped in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/collections\/deer-resistant-shrubs-evergreens\"\u003edeer-resistant shrubs and evergreens\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYes. \u003cem\u003eLeucothoe axillaris\u003c\/em\u003e is a straight species native to the southeastern United States, where it grows along shaded stream banks and in moist woodlands. You can browse more of these in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/collections\/native-plants\"\u003eNative Plants of North America\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Almanac Planting Co","offers":[{"title":"3 Gallon \/ Fall '26 Pre-Order","offer_id":47492755849378,"sku":"PN-leucothoe-3-1yr","price":79.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/9374\/6850\/files\/CoastalLeucothoe.jpg?v=1786014800","url":"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/products\/coastal-leucothoe","provider":"Almanac Planting Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}