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Leucothoe keiskei 'Royal Ruby'

Small, evergreen shrub about 60cm tall, with arching, red-tinged stems producing glossy, dark green lance-shaped leaves, the new leaves a rich ruby-red in spring and flushed purplish-red in winter. Urn-shaped white flowers 1cm long are produced in short racemes near the ends of young shoots in midsummer

Synonyms
Leucothoe axillaris 'Royal Ruby'
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Green
Summer White Green
Autumn Green
Winter Purple Red
Position
  • Full shade
  • Partial shade
Aspect

North–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Ericaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Leucothoe can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with simple, leathery leaves and racemes or panicles of small bell- or urn-shaped flowers

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in reliably moist, acid soil in partial or full shade

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility

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