Alphabetical Plant Listing

Chamaedaphne calyculata (Leatherleaf)

Leatherleaf, Cassandra


Chamaedaphne calyculata (Leatherleaf) is a rhizomatous evergreen shrub of dense, mound-shaped habit with upward-arching stems adorned with profuse, urn-shaped, pure white flowers borne in one-sided, terminal racemes, up to 5 in. long (12 cm). Blooming in mid to late spring, they hang from the upper leaf axils and contrast nicely with the foliage of glossy green, leathery, oval leaves. The foliage becomes purplish through the winter. The flowers are followed by round, reddish capsules that persist through the winter. Leatherleaf is perfect for bogs and other wetland areas.

  • Grows in an attractive mound, up to 1-3 ft. tall and wide (30-90 cm). Spreads by rhizomes to form dense thickets over time.
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade in acidic, peaty, moist to wet soils.
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to mixed borders, cottage gardens, bog gardens or along ponds and streams.
  • Virtually disease and pest free, but keep an eye out for rust, dieback and leaf spots.
  • Prune immediately after flowering.
  • Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer
  • Native to northeastern Europe east across northern Asia to North America.

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 6
Plant Type Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Alaska, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, North Carolina, South Carolina
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

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By Hartmut Goldhahn, Nata Naumovec, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 6
Plant Type Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Alaska, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, North Carolina, South Carolina
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

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