Chamaedaphne calyculata 'WHITE BELLS' leatherleaf

Leatherleaf is a small shrub native to most temperate parts of Northern hemisphere. It is a bog plant that can be found growing next to andromedas and other acid-soil-loving plants. If your soil is water-retaining clay, add peat and you can grow this care-free beauty without a problem.

White Bells is a selection rather than a variety of leatherleaf noted for compact, bushy growth, and profuse flowering. It produces arching shoots with numerous white, urn-shaped, lily-of-the-valley-like flowers in early spring. Fully flowering shrub is a show-stopper and conquers most early spring flowering shrubs. Evergreen leaves are ovate to oblong, 2-3 cm long and shorter towards the ends of the branches, dark olive green with some dotting like Ebbingei elaeagnus, and rusty (scaly) reverse. It can be lightly trimmed after flowering but in order to keep a nice shape it is not needed.

It loves moist to wet places with humus-rich, cool, and acidic soil. Grow it in constant moisture or even a boggy location in full sun or partial shade. While it gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day it will be happy. It common garden soil it needs to be mulched as drying out quickly ends up in losing leaves along the stems. Pest and disease free. Extremely hardy to -45°C (USDA zone 2).

Last update 30-10-2017