Drooping Leucothoe

Drooping leucothoe is the graceful, arching evergreen shrub of the Appalachian forests, and one of the most refined shade plants available for Western Washington gardens. The long, leathery leaves are held on arching stems that create a cascading, fountain-like effect, and in spring, dangling chains of small, white, urn-shaped flowers line the undersides of the branches like tiny bells. In winter, the foliage turns bronze-purple, adding a color shift when the garden needs it most. Native to the mountains from Virginia to Georgia and Tennessee, it grows three to six feet tall.

Drooping leucothoe belongs in every shade garden with acidic soil and consistent moisture. It is in the Ericaceae and thrives alongside rhododendrons, pieris, and mountain laurel. 'Rainbow' (also sold as 'Girard's Rainbow') produces new growth in shades of cream, pink, and green. 'Scarletta' offers intense red-purple new foliage. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The arching habit means it needs room to express its natural form, do not shear it into a ball. Plant it where the branches can arch freely, perhaps cascading over a retaining wall or along a woodland path. For refined evergreen texture and graceful form in shade, drooping leucothoe is one of the best options in the regional shrub palette.