Leucothoe fontanesiana

Common Name(s):

Dog hobble, Drooping leucothoe, Fetter bush, fetterbush

Cultivar(s):

Girard's Rainbow, Scarletta, Rollisoni

Categories:

Native Plants, Poisonous Plants, Shrubs

Comment:

Red new growth; dark green glossy leaves in shade; will turn bronze to burgundy in winter with sunlight; Subject to leaf spot disease; can be grown in full sun with adequate moisture; can be severely pruned to control height. This plant is resistant to damage by deer.

Description:

Evergreen shrub with green and broadly arching stems; leaves alternate, simple, taper-pointed; flowers on all sides of elongated, axillary clusters, each white, inverted urn-shaped with 5 small lobes; fruit a globular, 5-lobed capsule more or less depressed at the apex.

Height:

3-6 ft.

Foliage:

Leathery alternate, simple, lustrous dark green leaves; 2 to 5 in. long; lighter below; long slender stems with limited branch; 'Girard's Rainbow' new growth is white pink and bronze

Flower:

Creamy white, fragrant to ill-scented white urn-shaped flowers on 2 to 3 in. raceme that hangs down; flowers in spring

Zones:

6 to 8

Habit:

Evergreen

Site:

Partial shade to shade; tolerates sun with adequate moisture; prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil high in organic matter; does not withstand drought or drying wind

Texture:

Medium to coarse

Form:

Long, spreading, arching stems; fountain-like mound

Exposure:

Partial shade; moist soil; does not withstand drought or drying wind

Fruit:

Drooping clusters of creamy white flowers on arching stems in late spring

Family:

Ericaceae

Origin:

USA, NC

Distribution:

Mountains and upper Piedmont; gardens

Poison Part:

Leaves and nectar from flowers

Poison Delivery Mode:

Ingestion

Symptoms:

Salivation and nasal discharge, sweating, tingling sensation, headache, depression, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis

Toxic Principle:

Andromedotoxin

Severity:

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Found in:

Forest or natural areas in wet woodlands, along stream banks; landscape as cultivated woody ornamental shrub

Width:

3-6 ft.

Tags:

deer resistant, evergreen

NCCES plant id: 501