Coastal Doghobble
Leucothoe axillaris
A tidy evergreen groundcover shrub for shaded borders. Glossy leaves through winter, early white flowers for waking bees, and deer leave it alone.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Compact native evergreen groundcover for shaded borders. lower and tidier than mountain doghobble, with better heat tolerance.
Coastal doghobble is the lower, more compact, and slightly more sun-tolerant of the two native Leucothoe species, a naturally tidy evergreen groundcover shrub for shaded borders in zones 6 through 9. The glossy, dark green leaves hold well through winter with minimal browning, and the short, dense growth habit makes it naturally mound-forming without pruning. In late winter and early spring, small white fragrant flower clusters appear along the stems, not as dramatic as mountain doghobble, but earlier and appreciated by native bees just emerging. It's native to the coastal plain rather than the mountains, giving it slightly better heat and drought tolerance than its Appalachian relative. In a shaded, moist border or woodland edge, it fills in over time to form a clean, low groundcover layer that doesn't get weedy and doesn't need edging. Deer won't touch it.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown coastal doghobble propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant coastal doghobble instead of Nandina (Nandina domestica) in shaded foundation plantings. Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft · 4–6 ft wide
- Bloom time
- Late winter to spring
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 6–9
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Native range
- Southeastern United States from Virginia to Florida along coastal plain stream banks and wet woods
Care notes for coastal doghobble.
Moist, acidic, well-drained soil in part to full shade. More heat tolerant than mountain doghobble; suited to zone 6-9 gardens. Mulch to maintain moisture and acidity. Minimal pruning needed; remove any winter-damaged tips in spring. Spreads slowly by stolons to fill in naturally. No fertilization.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside coastal doghobble.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.