Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Gold' (Golden leucothoe) — H40 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Regular price
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€32,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€32,95
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Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🍂 Orange, golden, then acid-green curly foliage • ✨ Glossy, twisted leaves • 🌼 White bells in April-May • 🌘 Partial shade to shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -18 °C • 🪴 Compact habit, ideal in a pot
Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Gold' is a small evergreen shrub grown for its curly foliage, which changes color throughout the seasons. A horticultural selection from Europe (the Netherlands) derived from a species native to the southeastern United States, it brings light to the catalog's shade plants, where few shrubs retain vivid colors.
Its 3 to 4 cm leaves, glossy and twisted, emerge orange-red in spring, become golden, then turn acid green, so several shades coexist on the plant. In April-May, it bears small, slightly fragrant white bells. Its slow growth keeps it compact, at around 60 cm tall when mature.
Which shrub with colorful foliage should you choose?
Ten evergreen shrubs from the catalog, chosen for their foliage rather than their flowers:
- Leucothoe 'Curly Gold' (this plant) — curly golden and acid-green leaves, compact. The brightest in full shade.
- Leucothoe Scarletta® 'Zeblid' — dark red leaves in spring, bright green edged in red, bronze in winter. The largest of the leucothoes, with an arching habit.
- Leucothoe 'Little Flames' — green leaves with flame-red tips in winter, coppery young shoots. The best suited to a small hedge.
- Leucothoe 'Burning Love' — smooth, narrow leaves, burgundy red in spring, purple in winter. The deepest purple, with an arching habit.
- Leucothoe 'Colour Diamond' — coppery young shoots followed by green leaves edged in cream, turning red in cold weather. The narrowest, ideal for a small pot.
- Leucothoe 'Makijaz' — green leaves splashed with white, pink in spring, burgundy in winter. The most spreading.
- Leucothoe 'Curly Red' — curly red leaves in spring, dark green in summer, purple in winter. The most changeable throughout the seasons.
- Japanese aralia 'Spider Web' — large palmate leaves speckled with white, for partial shade. The most exotic.
- Euonymus 'Emerald 'n' Gold' standard — small green-and-gold leaves, trained into a ball on a 90 cm standard. The most structured, in sun or partial shade.
- Photinia 'Little Red Robin' standard — bright red young shoots, on a 90 cm standard. The most colorful in spring, for a sunny position.
Leucothoes are the only ones that require acidic soil. Apart from Scarletta, they stay low: place them in front of or at the foot of standard shrubs.
Light & location
A woodland shrub in its native region, it grows easily in shade, provided its roots remain cool and moist. Hot afternoon sun bleaches and dries out its leaves.
- Exposure: partial shade to shade, morning sun tolerated if the growing medium stays moist.
- Location: north- or east-facing balcony, shady courtyard, beneath a tree, border at the foot of a wall.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -18 °C — it stays outdoors in winter.
- Soil type: ericaceous compost, moist, humus-rich and well-drained — never chalky.
An hour or two of morning sun is enough to intensify the golden color; in full shade, the foliage becomes more lime green.
Watering & care
Its fine roots are just as sensitive to drying out as they are to lime: a growing medium suitable for ericaceous plants retains moisture without becoming waterlogged, and a few days away in summer is worth planning, as a pot that dries out completely causes the leaves to turn brown.
- Watering: regular — keep the growing medium consistently moist in spring and summer, and water less often in winter without letting it dry out.
- Water: preferably rainwater or low-lime water.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for ericaceous plants, in spring.
- Pruning: light pruning after flowering to remove damaged branches or maintain a rounded shape.
- Repotting: the following spring, into a slightly wider pot, with ericaceous compost.
A layer of pine bark mulch on top of the pot keeps the roots cool and slightly acidifies the growing medium.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
Its golden foliage brightens shady arrangements and pairs well with plants that enjoy the same acidic soil, especially on a balcony with little sun.
- For an arrangement of acid-loving plants, pair it with Camellia 'Nuccio's Gem' — they have the same needs for acidic soil and partial shade, while its late-winter white flowers stand out against the golden foliage.
- For winter flowering at its base, plant a Lenten rose 'Double Ellen White' next to it — its white flowers from February to April take over when the foliage is at its greenest.
- For a contrast of textures, pair it with a Korean rock fern — its dark green color and fine fronds make the golden, curly leaves stand out.
- To enhance the pot, choose the Capi Nature Skin anthracite pot — the dark gray makes the golden color appear brighter.
Planted in groups of three in a long planter, it forms a low golden hedge that dresses a railing all year round.
Verdeia tips
- Watch the veins: leaves that turn yellow while retaining green veins indicate chlorosis caused by lime, not to be confused with the natural golden color. Yellow leaves do not always have the same cause: their appearance helps distinguish between them.
- Cut it back if it becomes leggy: in spring, cutting back one-third of the longest stems encourages new orange shoots from the base.
- Protect the pot from winter winds: dry, windy cold browns the evergreen foliage more than frost itself. Against a wall, it gets through winter intact.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Gold'
- Common name: Golden leucothoe
- Family: Ericaceae
- Origin: horticultural selection from Europe (the Netherlands), species native to the southeastern United States
- Delivery dimensions: H40 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Habit: compact and bushy, slow-growing
- Mature height: approximately 60 cm tall and 40 to 50 cm wide
- Flowering: small, slightly fragrant white bells in April-May
- Exposure: partial shade to shade
- Watering: regular, substrate always moist
- Soil type: ericaceous, acidic, humus-rich and well-drained soil
- Hardiness: down to -18 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, curly and glossy, orange then golden and acid green
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: toxic if ingested by animals and children
- Decorative style: Graphic / Woodland / Terrace
Each plant is unique: the proportion of orange, golden, and green leaves naturally varies according to the season and the light it receives.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.