Fetterbush, Doghobble, or Sierra Laurel
Leucothoe species (ERICACEAE)
Planting and Growing Fetterbush
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, seedpods, and seeds of fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
- Growing conditions for fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
- When and where to plant fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
- How to plant fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
- How to shape, prune and control growth of fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
- Landscape uses of fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
- Pest and disease control for fetterbush, doghobble, or Sierra laurel
Growing Fetterbush
About 50 species of medium-growing, upright, arching, evergreen shrubs, to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall and 4–8 ft. (1.2–2.4 m) wide, with alternate, shiny, green, leathery, oval, pointed leaves, to 7 in. (18 cm) long, turning bronze in autumn.
Dwarf cultivars available. The species’ colorful common names refer to the historical use of the plant’s flexible stems to weave ankle hobbles that prevented animals and livestock from wandering too far from a pasture site.
Fetterbush Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Seeds
Many tiny, cream, pink, white, heart-shaped flowers, in showy, nodding, clusters, 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) long, in early summer, form capsulelike seedpods in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–9, depending on species; most ground hardy, zones 6–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist to damp, well-drained, sandy humus. Fertility: Rich. 5.5–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 3–4 ft. (90–120 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize monthly during growth. Deadhead spent flower stems after bloom. Protect from wind. Propagate by cuttings, division, runners, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, beds, borders, containers, foregrounds in bog, woodland gardens. Good for cutting. Pest and disease resistant.