Leucothoe 'Lipsbolwi' RED LIPS^®

Leucothoe or switch ivy is quite new in our gardens, yet it has become one of my most loved evergreen plants. It belongs to the same family as for example rhododendrons. They come from remote parts of the world such as Madagascar, Himalayas, S. and N. America, and Japan. Still, they are tough and hardy plants that will enrich your garden as well as a patio or balcony because their excellent root hardiness allows cultivating them in outdoor pots down to zone 6.

RED LIPS^® is a leucothoe novelty from 1999. It was discovered by A.L.Ch. Bolwijn in Putten, the Netherlands, as a natural mutation of a 15 years older variety SCARLETTA^®. It is an evergreen, densely leaved, compact plant of mounding habit with narrowly lance-shaped leaves that emerge rich red in spring and turn medium green. In autumn they change to darker red and burgundy red, and remain so until spring.

Leucothoe is usually grown in partial shade but tests proved that if cultivated in full sun the foliage shows various amounts of red shades also in summer. Just make sure the soil is evenly moist. It grows in many soil types but looks best and stays healthiest in acid, fertile, constantly moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. It will live in full shade, too, but may not show as many red leaves. It is very hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5b) and can be grown in outdoor pots.

Last update 03-03-2013