Leucothoe axillarisCoastal Dog Hobble, Coastal Leucothoe
Type Groundcover, woody plant
Hardy range 4B to 8A
Height 24" to 4' / 60cm to 1.20m
Spread 6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m
Growth rate Average
Form Prostrate and spreading or horizontal
Exposure Full shade to partial sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color Pink and white
Bloom Time Spring
The flowers are fragrant.
Environment
This plant tolerates some drought, occasional wetness and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Purple
This plant has attractive fall colors.
Culture Notes
This graceful and informal shrub may grow 2 to 4 feet in height and may spread 6 to 10 feet. Its arching stoloniferous stems support large, glossy, evergreen leaves. These dark green leaves turn to a purple-green color in the winter. The April flowers of Coastal Leucothoe are very small and occur in bell-shaped racemes. These flowers are white or pinkish-white and are borne in the leaf axils. The fruits of this shrub are inconspicuous capsules.
Coastal Leucothoe is outstanding in masses and is a good choice for enclosed city gardens. It is commonly used in the landscape as a specimen, ground cover, and border plant. This shrub is also impressive when naturalized along wooded stream banks.
Coastal Leucothoe should be grown in a partially or densely shaded site. It grows best in areas that receive morning sunlight and in moist, acidic, soil containing high organic matter and silt. Plants grown in full sun appear to suffer unless provided with regular irrigation in dry weather. This plant is a good choice for shaded, moist to occasionally wet sites. Soil should not be continually wet but should drain well after rain. This plant can be rejuvenated into vigorous growth in the center of the plant if the 2 and 3 year old canes are removed after bloom. All parts of the plant may be poisonous if ingested.
Planting and establishing shrubs
The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.
Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.
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