WSU Clark County Extension
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'Girard's Rainbow' Drooping Leucothe

Scientific name: Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Girard's Rainbow'
Taxonomy
Family:Ericaceae
Type:Evergreen shrubs
Native:NO
Plant Requirements
Zone:5 to 8
Sun:Full to partial sun
Moisture:Medium
Plant Characteristics
Height:6 ft
Width:6 ft
Bloom:Fragrant flowers
Bloom Time:May to June
Bloom Color:White
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description With its green and pink variegated foliage color, this Leucothoe cultivar makes for an interesting foundation shrub or border plant. An alternative name is Fetterbush or Drooping Agarista.

  Morphology:
This is an evergreen shrub that can grow to 6’ in both height and width. With time the shape of this plant becomes fountain-like. The variation in the leaf color is very striking. On any one limb there will be shoots bearing leaves colored white, pinkish, coppery or green. They are arranged in an alternate fashion and are 2”-5” long. Each leaf is only ¾” inch in width.

Flowers form in May. Each flower is a small white, urn-shaped structure. Collectively the flowers are clustered into 2”-3” long racemes. They have a pleasing fragrance.

  Adaptation:
This plant is best suited to moist sites with acidic soils. It can take both full sun and partial shade.

  Pests:
This plant does well in the Pacific Northwest.
For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 5701
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