Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Red' (Red 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.
❤️ Bright red curly young shoots • 🌿 Glossy dark green in summer, purple in winter • 🌼 White bells in April-May • 🌘 Partial shade to shade • ❄️ Hardy to -15 °C • 🪴 Compact habit, ideal for a pot
Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Red' is a small evergreen shrub with curly foliage that changes color with each season. A horticultural selection from Europe (the Netherlands), bred by the Van Opstal nursery, it brings color all year round to corners in partial shade, without relying on flowering.
In spring, its curly young shoots emerge bright red, then mature to a dark, glossy green. In autumn, the foliage turns red, and in winter it takes on deep purple tones. In April-May, small, lightly scented white bells appear beneath the leaves. Its slow growth keeps it compact, at around 50 to 60 cm tall.
Which colorful foliage shrub should you choose?
Ten evergreen shrubs from the catalog, chosen for their foliage rather than their flowers:
- Leucothoe 'Curly Red' (this plant) — curly red leaves in spring, dark green in summer and purple in winter. The most changeable throughout the seasons.
- 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, and coppery young shoots. The best suited to a small hedge.
- Leucothoe 'Burning Love' — smooth, narrow leaves, burgundy red in spring and 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 Gold' — curly golden and acid-green leaves, compact. The brightest in full shade.
- 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 exposure.
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, the southeastern United States, it grows easily in shade as long as its roots stay cool. Afternoon sun dries out its leaves in summer.
- Exposure: partial shade to shade, with morning sun tolerated if the substrate stays moist.
- Location: north- or east-facing balcony, shaded courtyard, at the foot of a tree, or by the entrance to the home.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -15 °C — it can stay outdoors in winter, sheltered from cold winds.
- Soil type: ericaceous, moist, humus-rich and well-drained soil — never chalky.
Cold weather intensifies its winter purple: a spot exposed to fresh air but sheltered from the wind produces the deepest shades.
Watering & care
Its fine roots must never dry out: testing the substrate with your finger twice a week in summer is enough to identify the right time, while browning leaf tips indicate that the pot has stayed too dry or received too much sun.
- Watering: regular — keep the substrate consistently moist in spring and summer, and water less frequently in winter without letting it dry out.
- Water: preferably rainwater or low-lime water.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for ericaceous plants, in spring.
- Pruning: light, after flowering, to maintain a rounded shape — each cut triggers new red shoots.
- Repotting: the following spring, into a slightly wider pot, using ericaceous soil.
A layer of pine bark mulch on top of the pot helps retain moisture and slightly acidifies the substrate.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
Its spring red and winter purple make a colorful backdrop for shade plants and balcony plants suited to the same exposure.
- For an arrangement of acid-loving plants, pair it with the Camellia 'Nuccio's Gem' — they have the same acidic soil requirements, and its late-winter white flowers stand out against the purple foliage.
- For Christmas flowering, plant a Christmas rose 'Christmas Carol' next to it — its pure white flowers open when the leucothoe takes on its winter colors.
- To brighten the base, plant a Carex 'Ice Dance' at the edge of the pot — its cream edging brightens the dark green of summer.
- To enhance the pot, choose the taupe Capi Nature Groove pot — its warm color complements the red and purple without competing with them.
Paired with 'Curly Gold' in the same planter, it creates a red and gold contrast in spring, and purple and acid green in winter.
Verdeia tips
- Prune to bring back the red: red shoots emerge after each pruning. Cutting back a few branches in May, after flowering, encourages a second flush of young, colorful leaves.
- Protect the pot from winter winds: below -15 °C or in icy winds, move it closer to a wall or wrap the pot in a winter protection fleece. A winter balcony is easy to create with cold-hardy plants.
- Don't worry about the purple: foliage that darkens in winter is a normal reaction to the cold, not a sign of disease. It turns green again in spring.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Red'
- Common name: Red leucothoe
- Family: Ericaceae
- Origin: horticultural selection from Europe (the Netherlands), species native to the southeastern United States
- Delivery dimensions: H40 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Growth habit: compact and bushy, slow-growing
- Adult height: 50 to 60 cm
- Flowering: small, slightly fragrant white bells, in April-May
- Exposure: partial shade to shade
- Watering: regular, keep the substrate moist at all times
- Soil type: ericaceous soil, acidic, rich in humus and well-drained
- Hardiness: down to -15 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, curly and glossy, red then dark green, purple in winter
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: toxic if ingested by animals and children
- Decorative style: Graphic / Woodland / Terrace
Each plant is unique: the proportion of red shoots and the intensity of its winter purple naturally vary 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.