Fetterbush Lyonia Lyonia lucida
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-OH-nee-ah LOO-sid-ah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Fetterbush is a native evergreen shrub in the heath family that is found in swampy areas, bogs and wet woods from VA to FL and west to LA.
It grows 3-6 feet tall and wide and has a dense arching often sprawling form that impedes (fetters) foot traffic of animals and humans making it a good hedge. This plant grows in moist to wet areas with seasonal flooding and prefers partial shade and rich acidic soil. It does well in better-drained sites though and can tolerate sandy soils once established.
Small fragrant flowers appear in clusters in spring and are followed by woody 5-parted capsules. It spreads by root suckers and rhizomes to form thickets.
Use this shrub in naturalized areas, wet sites, rain gardens and as a hedge or privacy screen.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: The fetterbush is susceptible to leaf spot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lyonia
- Species:
- lucida
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE North America, NC and Cuba
- Distribution:
- AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides excellent cover, especially in the winter. Its flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Members of the genus Lyonia support the following specialized bees: Colletes product and Melitta (Cilissa) melittoides.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 5-parted oval seed capsules. Displays from September to October.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Urn
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Pinkish flowers are urn-shaped and bloom in clusters from April to June. Color can also be red or white.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are smooth, thick, shiny, and evergreen. A major vein encircles each leaf just inside the edge, and a distinct ridge occurs around the lower side of the leaf margin. The midrib is lighter in color. They are 4 inches long and 2 inches wide.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- Brown bark which splits and finely shreds.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are scaley, brown and angular
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Signs of Toxicity occur usually within six hours of consuming the plant. Symptoms include lack of coordination, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, muscular spasms, watering of eyes and nose, slow pulse, colic, ataxia, depression, sweating, tingling of skin, convulsions, paralysis, coma, and sometimes even death. Toxicity in sheep, goats, cattle, and horses is most likely to occur in late winter or early spring when other forage is not available. Livestock are found down, unable to stand with their head weaving from side to side.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Andromedotoxin, Grayanotoxins
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
