Download Coast Leucothoe

Coast Leucothoe
(Leocothoe axillaris)
2-4’ x 3-6’, spreading colonies with spreading
fountain-like branches.
Native VA south. Found in lowland areas by swamps,
streamsides, and coastal plains.
2-4” slender glossy leathery pointed evergreen
leaves, cascading on shiny zigzag stems. They emerge
a rich copper, become glossy green, maroon in winter.
Leaves are arranged in two ranks along the stems, and
have a textural effect like large ferns or Solomon’s Seal.
Masses of white dangling-bell April-May flowers with
a honey fragrance, hanging in drooping 1-3” clusters.
In fall, clusters of dangling green flower buds appear.
Each year new shoots arch up, grow rapidly, and
thicken the cover of leaves.
Part sun (some morning sun preferred) to full shade.
Moist to moderately dry well-drained acidic humusy
soil; protect from winter wind and drought, likes
winter mulch. Cultural needs similar to
Rhododendrons. Tolerates occasional hard pruning
after flowering or in winter.
Tall groundcover, undergrowth, massing, screening,
for woodlands, borders, slopes, shady banks,
foundations. Good for hiding leggy plants,
and for bank stabilization.
Very attractive to bees, especially Queen Bumblebees.
Photos 1, 3: by kenpei
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leucothoe_axillaris1.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leucothoe_axillaris3.jpg
Photos 2: Missouri Botanic PlantFinder
www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder
Photo 4: Will Cook, Duke University
www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/leax.html
Mountain Laurel
(Kalmia latifolia)
Mature size about 5 to 12' tall, dense-compact or
loose-open, depending on amount of light, becomes
picturesque with gnarly twisting trunks in maturity.
Charming cup-shaped ¾-1” white to pink flowers
with purple dot markings in a circle, in 4-6” clusters, June.
Leaves dark green and glossy above.
Prefers partial shade to full sun, with more flowers in sun;
cool moist well-drained acidic organic soil,
avoid windswept sites.
Native to rocky or lowland woods, bogs, peat lands,
pine barrens. New England native.
Wonderful in masses, gardens, shrub border, foundations,
woodland edges, understory, hillsides.
‘Naturalizing grade’ – use in masses, shrub borders,
woodland edges, understory, hillsides.
Habitat for songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies.
Connecticut State Plant
Species flower
‘Carousel’ Mountain Laurel
This vigorous grower is similar
to the non-cultivar Mountain
Laurel above, except for its flower
color, which is an intricate pattern
of bright purplish-cinnamon
pigmentation on the inside,
and an edge marked with white.
Photos 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
North Central Conservation District
Photo 3
Missouri Botanic PlantFinder
www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder
Rhododendron ‘Roseum Elegans’
(Rhododendron catawbiense)
6-8’ hardy vigorous upright plant.
‘Roseum Elegans’ is a vintage cultivar.
R. catawbiense is native VA south,
in mountainous areas, on bluffs and balds.
Huge trusses of lavender-pink May flowers
nearly cover shrub. A reliable bloomer.
Bold 3-6” rounded leaves, with rolled-under
leaf margins, densely placed,
from top to ground.
Sun to shade; prefers sun-dappled shade.
Cool moist to moderately dry, well-drained,
acid, organic soil.
Withstands temperature extremes.
Helpful to add peat and/or compost when
planting. Provide mulch, as rhodies are
shallow-rooted plants.
Beautiful in masses in native areas;
use also in groups, as a specimen,
in shade gardens, woods, screens, paths,
shrub borders, mixed borders.
Attracts birds and hummingbirds.
Attracts butterflies, including Swallowtails
and Monarchs.
Photo 1
Sally and John Perkins
American Rhododendron Society, Massachusetts Chapter
www.rosebay.org
Photos 2, 3
Pat Breen, Oregon State University
www.oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants
Photo 4
Rebecca Robert
Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College
blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/2009/06/rhododendron-or-azalea/
Sheep Laurel
(Kalmia angustifolia)
2-3’, low-growing, branchy, rounded, spreading.
CT native, found in a range of environments from
wet bogs to dry forests, rocky barrens, open thickets,
old pastures, often in semi-shade, sandy or infertile soil.
This selection found in Maine by the grower.
Showy mountain laurel-like rich dark pink-rose flowers,
June-July.
Narrow lustrous gray-green evergreen leaves.
Sun to part shade,
Wet to dry, well-drained acidic soil, not windswept.
Very adaptable species.
Use for evergreen groundcover, at woodland edges,
in foundations.
Attracts butterflies, larval host to Brown Elfin
Butterfly, and Columbia Silkmoth.
Cover and seed for birds.
Photo 1
Eleanor Saulys
Connecticut Botanical Society
Photo 2
Univ. of CT Plant Database
www.hort.uconn.edu/plants
Photo 3
North Central Conservation Districgt
Periwinkle
(Vinca minor)
Evergreen low trailing groundcover
3" to 6" tall, spreads many feet
Prefers partial shade, tends to yellow in full sun/high heat
Moist, well-drained and fertile soil
Relatively adaptable
Useful as groundcover, filler around other plants
Useful for erosion control
Thin, wiry stems
Glossy dark green leaves, 1" to 2" long
Leaves leathery when mature
Showy, early spring blue flowers
Photo 1
University of Connecticut Plant Database
www.hort.uconn.edu/plants
Photo 2
Missouri Botanic PlantFinder
www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder