72 gardener saves
Leucothoe: the varieties gardeners actually grow
We track 7 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 7 most-saved Leucothoe varieties
Of 7 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedDrooping Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'
#2 most savedScarletta Fetterbush
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Zeblid'
#3 most savedDrooping Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Scarletta Drooping Fetterbush
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Scarletta Drooping'
Coastal Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris
Margie Jenkins Coast Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris 'Margie Jenkins'
Burning Love Leucothoe
Leucothoe keiskei 'Burning Love'
How to grow Leucothoe
What the Leucothoe varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 7 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Leucothoe year
- MulchApril and November100% of varieties
Maintain a consistent layer of acidic mulch like pine straw or bark.
- PlantMarch, April, September and October100% of varieties
Plant in spring or fall in moist, acidic, well-drained soil.
- PruneMay86% of varieties
Prune lightly after flowering to shape or remove any dead tips.
Do
- Provide consistent moisture; do not let the soil dry out completely.
- Ensure the soil is acidic (pH 4.5-6.0) for best health.
- Use as a groundcover under large trees like oaks and pines.
- Appreciate its strong resistance to deer browsing.
- Plant in acidic, humus-rich soil.
Avoid
- Do not plant in full sun, which will scorch the leaves.
- Avoid planting in alkaline (high pH) soils.
- Don't let it get too dry, especially in the summer.
- Refrain from heavy pruning, which will spoil its natural arching form.
What goes wrong with Leucothoe
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Lace Bugs | Yellow or white stippling on the upper leaf surface; dark, varnish-like spots of excrement on the underside. | Encourage beneficial insects. Use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, ensuring good coverage on the leaf undersides. |
| Scale Insects | Crusty bumps on stems, sticky honeydew, sooty mold. | Apply horticultural oil in early spring. For heavy infestations, use a systemic insecticide containing imidacloprid. |
| Vine Weevil | Notches chewed in leaf margins by adults; wilting plant from larvae eating roots. | Apply beneficial nematodes to the soil to control larvae. Use sticky traps on pot rims for adults. |
| Fungal Leaf Spot | Brown or black spots on leaves, sometimes with a purple border. Can cause defoliation in severe cases. | Improve air circulation. Water at the base of the plant to keep foliage dry. Rake up and destroy fallen leaves. Apply a fungicide if necessary. |
| Root Rot | Wilting, poor growth, and leaf drop, caused by overly saturated, poorly drained soil. | Prevention is the only cure. Ensure the planting site has good drainage. Amend heavy clay soils before planting. |
| Phytophthora Root Rot | Sudden wilting, poor growth, and discolored roots. | Prevention is critical. Ensure excellent drainage. There is no cure for infected plants. |
Making more Leucothoe
Semi-hardwood Cuttings
- Take 4-6 inch cuttings in mid-summer from the current season's growth.
- Remove the lower leaves and wound the base slightly.
- Dip in rooting hormone and insert into a mix of peat and perlite.
- Keep in a humid environment; rooting takes 8-10 weeks.
Division of suckers
- In early spring, identify a rooted sucker at the edge of the clump.
- Use a sharp spade to sever it from the parent plant.
- Dig up the sucker with its roots intact.
- Replant immediately in a new location and water well.
Leucothoe questions
How many types of Leucothoe are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 7 distinct Leucothoe varieties. The most popular — ranked by 72 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Leucothoe grow in?
Across its varieties, Leucothoe covers USDA Zones 5–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Leucothoe bloom?
Most Leucothoe varieties bloom in mid-spring, late spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Leucothoe should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Leucothoe shows up in
By hardiness zone
Design with Leucothoe in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
