Habitat:

• zone 4 to 6
• mountainous regions of southeastern U.S.
• often found in cool, shady ravines along streams

Habitat and Form:

• a suckering, colonizing shrub
• stout stems from the base, limited lateral branches
• graceful, arching stems
• 3 to 6' tall with equal spread
• broadleaf evergreen

Summer Foliage:

• alternate leaves, 2-5" long
• dark shiny green mature foliage; leathery
• emerging shoots bronzy or reddish
• leaves sharp pointed with fine, wide-spread serrations

Fall Foliage:

• with sufficient exposure to sun, a burgundy-purple color develops
• some cultivars selected for fall-winter coloration

Flowers:

• in May
• small white, urn-shaped in 2-3" long racemes
• fragrant
• borne in leaf axils
• showy, but somewhat obscured by foliage

Fruit:

• capsule
• not ornamentally important

Bark:

• stems mix of green and red
• glabrous and shiny

Culture:

• prefers moist, cool, acid soils
• best in partial shade
• can rejuvenate old plants by pruning to ground in spring
• protect from winter wind

Landscape use:

• naturalizing
• borders with other ericaceous plants
• facer plants with taller plants
• shady bank stabilization

Liabilities:

• desiccation burn in winter in exposed sites
• leaf spot can be a problem in area with poor air circulation

ID Features:

• stout, glabrous green-red stems with little lateral branching
• colonizing habit
• evergreen, alternate, 2-5" long leaves with long, sharp point and fine serrations on margin
• racemes of white urn-shaped flowers in axil

Propagation:

• cutting root readily in June or winter root easily with hormone
• seed

Cultivars/Varieties:

'Girard's Rainbow' - The foliage emerges white, pink and coppery on this selection, maturing to green streaked with cream. It is less vigorous than the species, but handsome.

'Mary Elizabeth' - This is a dwarf form with finely-textured, narrow foliage that bronzes in winter.

'Nana' (perhaps the same as 'Compacta') - This is a dense, dwarf form reaching 2' tall and wider.

'Scarletta' - A common form in commerce, this form is notable for its deep red new growth and bronzy-purple winter hue.

'Silver Run' - A variegated form that appears to be hardier than 'Girard's Rainbow', this selection offers foliage marked with creamy white areas.