Monrovia : Learn

A beautiful U.S. native woodland shrub with a romantic pendulous habit. Spreading underground roots increase the overall area of the plant, which is ideal for naturalizing. Leathery lance-shaped leaves take on vibrant beet-red fall color. Upright clusters of white urn-shaped flowers all along the branches in late spring. Prefers acidic soil rich in humus. Deciduous. Shade or part shade. Moderate to rapid growth to over 6 feet tall and wide, spreading even farther over time.

Performance and Requirements

Light needs: Partial sun

Watering Needs: Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat.

Pruning Time: Winter

Growth Rate: Moderate Growing

Growth Habit: Arching

Design Information

Companion Plants

GEORGE L. TABER AZALEA
Azalea `George L. Taber` (Southern Indica)

CAROLINA ALLSPICE
Calycanthus floridus

ORANGE FLAME OREGON GRAPE HOLLY
Mahonia aquifolium 'Orange Flame' P.P.# 2544

MARGE MILLER^™ CAMELLIA
Camellia sasanqua 'Marge Miller'

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Companion Plants (Description): Leucothoe belongs with other understory species of the southeast such as Carolina Allspice, (Calycanthus floridus) and more exciting exotics like Marge Miller Camellia, (Camellia sasanqua 'Marge Miller'), Orangee Flame Oregon Grape Holly, (Mahonia aquifolium 'Orangee Flame') and George L. Taber Azalea, (Azalea indica 'George L. Taber').

Design Styles: A beautiful spreading shrub for shaded foundation beds and boundary fence lines.. Add to borders beneath large shade trees. Makes a fine background shrub for floral plantings, fountains and specimen trees. Well adapted to southeastern native landscapes and wild gardens for that region.

Care Information

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Provide well drained soil, rich in organic matter. Feed with an acid fertilizer after bloom. Keep roots cool with a thick layer of mulch.

Background Information

History: This genus of Ericaceous plants includes over 40 species distributed over the Americas and eastern Asia. The American native was fiirst introduced in 1793 and classified by Jean Baptiste Lamarck. The genus is from ancient history, nameed Leucothoe after the daughter of Orchamus, King of Babylonia. The species is native to North America inhabiting a range extending over Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee.

Lore: Native Americans made an infusion of this plant used to treat itch and other skin diseases.

Botanical Pronunciation: loo-KOTH-o-ee fon-ta-nee-zee-AH-na

Catalog Description: A beautiful U.S. native woodland shrub with a romantic pendulous habit. Spreading underground roots increase the overall area of the plant, which is ideal for naturalizing. Leathery lance-shaped leaves take on vibrant beet-red fall color. Upright clusters of white urn-shaped flowers all along the branches in late spring. Prefers acidic soil rich in humus. Deciduous. Shade or part shade. Moderate to rapid growth to over 6 feet tall and wide, spreading even farther over time.