Coast leucothoe

Coast leucothoe: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Low, spreading shrub about 0.6 m high and 1 m wide, with arching branches; spreads slowly by suckers.

Leaves

Evergreen; leathery, glossy, lance-shaped to oval, 8–15 cm long. Dark green in summer, red to bronze in winter.

Flowers

Small, white, urn-shaped flowers in short clusters in the leaf axils, in May.

Fruit

Small, round capsules of little ornamental value.

Roots

Fine and shallow; it likes cool, moist, humus-rich soil.

Flowering: May · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: May–June

Why grow it?

• Green all year, with glossy foliage that turns red to bronze in winter.
• Does well in partial shade and shade, where few evergreens thrive.
• Stays low and compact: ideal as ground cover under larger shrubs and in containers.
• Small, white, urn-shaped flowers in May, in clusters among the leaves.
• Little work: a little pruning and acid, moist soil are enough.

Coast leucothoe: where does it grow best?

• Partial shade or shade; in deep shade the winter colour is less intense, in full sun the leaves can scorch.
• Acid, humus-rich, moist soil: sand, loam or peat, pH below 6. No lime.
• Likes evenly moist soil, but not standing water.
• Sheltered from dry, cold wind; allow 0.6–1 m of space per plant.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or peat

Acidity

Acid

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

0.6 m tall, 1 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Rhododendron: Likes the same acid, moist soil and partial shade.
• Hosta: Large leaves next to the small, glossy foliage.
• Ferns: Fresh, green underplanting in the shade.
• Coral bells: Colourful foliage in the same partial shade.
• Hydrangea: Flowers in summer when the leucothoe has finished.

Coast leucothoe: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or in September–October, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a generous hole and mix the soil with acidic leaf mould or ericaceous compost (no lime), especially on sandy soil.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot; plant shallowly, as the roots lie close to the surface.
4. Water thoroughly straight away, preferably with rainwater, and keep the soil moist in the first year.
5. Cover the soil with pine bark, pine needles or leaf mould, keeping it clear of the stem.

Care

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially in the first year and in dry summers. Use rainwater if you can: hard tap water raises the pH.

Feeding

In spring, a fertiliser for rhododendrons and other lime-hating plants, or acidic compost.

Mulching

A layer of pine bark or leaf mould keeps the roots cool and the soil acid.

Renewal

Remove a few of the oldest stems at the base every couple of years to keep the shrub compact and full.

In a container

Use a wide pot with ericaceous compost; keep the soil lightly moist at all times.

Tip: Keep the soil acid and moist and water with rainwater if you can. Mulch with pine bark or leaf mould for the best, glossy foliage.

Coast leucothoe: when to prune it?

Pruning months: May–June.

When: After flowering, in May–June. Renewal pruning can be done in spring.

How:

• Cut out dead, weak or damaged stems.
• Every couple of years, remove the oldest, bare stems right back to the base to renew the plant.
• Shorten overly long, arching stems to keep the shape.
• Wear gloves and dispose of the clippings, as all parts are poisonous.

Caution: The clippings are poisonous to people and animals. Do not leave them lying where children, pets or grazing animals can nibble them.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings

In July–September: take 8–10 cm cuttings from firm shoots, remove the lower leaves and insert them in moist, acidic compost under plastic. Rooting takes a few weeks.

Division

In spring or autumn, dig up a sucker with roots and plant it in a moist, shady spot.

Coast leucothoe: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Hardy to about −20 °C: no protection is needed in Belgian winters.
• The leaves turn red to bronze in winter; this is normal and says nothing about the plant’s health.
• Plant it sheltered from dry, cold wind and keep the soil moist in autumn, as leaves can scorch in winter.
• In a pot: place it in a sheltered spot and wrap the pot in hessian or bubble wrap so the roots do not freeze.

Diseases and pests

• Leaf spots: Brown or grey spots on the leaves caused by a fungus. Remove affected leaves and avoid wetting the foliage when watering.
• Yellow leaves (chlorosis): Yellow leaves with green veins on soil that is too chalky or from tap water. Use rainwater and mix acidic leaf mould into the soil.
• Scorched leaf edges: Brown leaf edges caused by drought, full sun or cold wind. Plant it sheltered and mulch the soil.
• Root rot: The plant declines in a spot that is too wet. Plant in well-drained soil and do not overwater.

Through the year

• March: Plant. Give acidic compost or fertiliser.
• April: Plant. Apply mulch.
• May: Flowers in small white clusters. Trim lightly after flowering.
• June: Trim lightly. Water in dry weather.
• July: Take cuttings. Water in dry weather.
• August: Water in dry weather. Take cuttings.
• September: Plant. Take cuttings.
• October: Plant. Top up the mulch.
• November: The leaves turn red to bronze. Keep the soil moist.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of leucothoe are poisonous, especially the leaves, flowers and nectar: it contains the same toxins as rhododendron (grayanotoxins), which cause drooling, vomiting, weakness and a slow heartbeat. Goats, sheep and alpacas above all, but also horses, cattle, rabbits and guinea pigs are at risk. Do not plant it where animals can reach the branches, never throw clippings into a field, pen or hutch and do not give them to animals, not even branches from a flower arrangement; if an animal has eaten some, call your vet at once. Keep small children, dogs and cats away from the plant too, and wear gloves when pruning. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• The name Leucothoe comes from Greek mythology: Leucothoe was a princess whom the god Apollo turned into a fragrant shrub.
• The species name axillaris refers to the little flowers that sit in the leaf axils.
• Leucothoe belongs to the heather family, like rhododendron, blueberry and heather.