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Dusty Zenobia Zenobia pulverulenta

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
zen-OH-bee-ah pul-ver-yoo-LEN-tah
Description

Dusty zenobia is a deciduous to evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family that is native to portions of southeastern US oastal plain from Virginia to Georgia.  It is native to moist soils in sandy or peaty pine savannas, shrub bogs, pond/swamp margins, and natural depression ponds.

While it is mostly deciduous in USDA zones 6 and 7, it is semi-evergreen south of zone 7.  This shrub has showy green to bluish-green foliage. It is intolerant of heat and drought.

Dusty zenobia may not grow true from seed so propagatate it via softwood cuttings in early summer and layering or division in early spring.   

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Woodlander's Blue'
'Woodlander's Blue'
Tags:
#deciduous#semi-evergreen#native shrub#showy leaves#small mammals#NC native#blue-green leaves#NC Native Pollinator Plant#Coastal OBL#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Woodlander's Blue'
'Woodlander's Blue'
Tags:
#deciduous#semi-evergreen#native shrub#showy leaves#small mammals#NC native#blue-green leaves#NC Native Pollinator Plant#Coastal OBL#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zenobia
    Species:
    pulverulenta
    Family:
    Ericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Native to the Southeastern US
    Distribution:
    Southeastern US Coastal Plain
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Multi-stemmed
    Open
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    5 valved capsules that appear between September to October
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Fragrant flowers bloom in the late spring to early summer (April-June).
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Waxy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, simple, leathery waxy smooth on both surfaces with undulate margins. Leaves are blue-green in the spring and summer and red-purple in the fall.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Dry Soil