Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata 'Verdant') is a broadleaf evergreen shrub native to the cool, wet regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, where it thrives in boggy meadows and pond margins. This low-maintenance wonder grows 1 to 3 feet tall and wide, producing glossy green foliage year-round and delicate white urn-shaped flowers in spring that give way to showy fruit. Hardy in zones 3 through 7, it spreads gradually by rhizomes to form dense thickets, drawing butterflies and other pollinators to its garden. The 'Verdant' selection brings reliable cold-hardiness and elegant evergreen structure to naturalized landscapes, wet gardens, and woodland edges.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-7
36in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Leatherleaf's glossy evergreen foliage remains vibrant even through harsh winters, offering year-round architectural interest in cold climates where deciduous shrubs go dormant. The spring flower display is understated but charming, with small white urn-shaped blooms held close to the stems, followed by showy fruit that persists into season. Its rhizomatous spread habit means it naturally colonizes wet ground without aggressive invasiveness, gradually building dense protective thickets over years rather than seasons. In zones 3 through 7, few broadleaf evergreens are as reliable or as content in acidic, boggy soil.
Leatherleaf is primarily valued for naturalization in wet, acidic landscapes. Its dense growth habit and moisture tolerance make it excellent for stabilizing pond edges, softening bog gardens, and creating wildlife corridors in moist woodland settings. Gardeners rely on it to establish protective thickets in areas too wet or too cold for conventional ornamental shrubs.
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