Leucothoe fontanesiana Scarletta

Unjustly overlooked, Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Scarletta' is a small bush. It is easy to grow in light and acidic soils in partial shade. Its naturally rounded habit and foliage in shades of green, red-purple, and bronze in winter give it a certain elegance that suits many garden styles.

Leucothoe fontanesiana is an evergreen bush that grows in a regular ball shape. Its growth is quite slow and therefore requires little or no pruning. When mature, it reaches a maximum height and width of 1.50 m (3.3 ft). It thrives in light and humus-rich soils with an acidic pH, in shade or partial shade, and sheltered from the wind. It is very hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -20° C (-4° F) at least. In May, it produces numerous clusters of white bell-shaped flowers distributed along the stems, reminiscent of the flowering of its cousins, Pieris or andromedas.

The Scarletta variety has elongated, thick-textured, dark green leaves edged with red when young in spring. The foliage then takes on an intense red-purple colour with the winter cold. It can be used at the front of shrub borders, with hydrangeas, for example, or other acid-loving plants. Its moderate growth and rounded, compact habit also make it suitable for containers to fill a less sunny spot on a terrace or balcony.

With its striking appearance, this cousin of heathers and rhododendrons (Ericaceae family) can be used as a topiary substitute. Although it originates from the moist forests of the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, it can find its place in a Zen or Japanese-inspired garden, a contemporary garden, or even in a French-style garden with a modern twist, where it will provide an evolving decorative presence throughout the year.