Drooping Leucothoe

Leucothoe fontanesiana

Drooping Leucothoe is a shrub, hardy in USDA zones 5-8, that matures to about 2-3 ft × 2-3 ft. It does best in part shade and full shade with medium water needs in moist, occasionally-dry and occasionally-wet soil. Expect white blooms in spring. It attracts butterflies and pollinators, stands up well to deer and erosion.

USDA zones: 5-8
Sun: Part shade, Full shade
Water: Medium
Mature size: 2-3 ft × 2-3 ft
Maintenance: Low
Soil: Moist, Occasionally-dry, Occasionally-wet
Bloom color: White
Bloom season: Spring
Attracts: Butterflies, Pollinators
Tough against: Deer, Erosion
Toxic to: People
Native to: Southeastern United States

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

We score Drooping Leucothoe’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.