Western Leucothoe

Leucothoe davisiae (Ericaceae) is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub native to the high Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and Klamath Ranges of the western United States, where it inhabits bogs and wet mountain areas. It grows 1 to 5 feet tall with a dense habit. White, fragrant, urn-shaped flowers (6 to 8 mm) appear in erect terminal clusters in May.

Sierra laurel requires part shade and moist, acidic conditions similar to other ericaceous plants. It tolerates renovation pruning (90 to 95 percent removal in late winter or spring). Documented problems include physiological shothole, powdery mildew, and carnation tortrix. Like other leucothoes, the entire plant is poisonous, containing diterpenoid compounds and grayanotoxins. Hardy in Zones 5a to 8b.