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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 GB / Ireland
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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