Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Colour Diamond' (Cream-variegated leucothoe) — H45 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.
💎 Coppery young shoots edged in cream • 🌿 Green leaves edged in cream • ❤️ Red hues in cold weather • 🌘 Partial shade to shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -23 °C • 🪴 Compact, narrow habit
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Colour Diamond' is a small evergreen shrub with cream-variegated foliage that changes color through the seasons. Derived from a species native to the damp woodlands of the southeastern United States, it is suited to shady terraces where space is limited, thanks to its narrow habit and slow growth.
Its slender, pointed leaves, 6 to 8 cm long, emerge coppery and edged in creamy white, then mature to green edged in cream. When cold weather arrives, the foliage turns red. In May, clusters of slightly scented creamy-white bells hang from the tips of the branches.
Which colorful-leaved shrub should you choose?
Ten evergreen shrubs from the catalog, chosen for their foliage rather than their flowers:
- Leucothoe 'Colour Diamond' (this plant) — coppery young shoots followed by green leaves edged in cream, turning red in cold weather. The narrowest, ideal for a small pot.
- Leucothoe Scarletta® 'Zeblid' — dark red leaves in spring, glossy 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 '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 through the seasons.
- Leucothoe 'Curly Gold' — curly golden and acid-green leaves, compact. The brightest in deep 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. Except for Scarletta, they stay low: place them in front of or at the base of standard shrubs.
Light & location
A woodland plant, it prefers dappled light and is just as sensitive to drought as to heatwaves: afternoon sun scorches the cream edges of its leaves.
- Exposure: partial shade to shade, with filtered light ideal.
- Location: small north- or east-facing balcony, shaded windowsill, entrance, inner courtyard.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -23 °C — it remains outdoors in winter.
- Soil type: ericaceous, moist, humus-rich and well-drained soil — never chalky or clayey.
On a balcony exposed to the dry cold of winter, its leaves take on their most pronounced red hues.
Watering & care
It does not tolerate its pot drying out: testing the substrate with your finger in summer lets you water before the leaves wilt, and being away for a few days needs planning ahead during hot spells.
- Watering: regular — keep the substrate consistently moist in spring and summer, 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: rarely necessary — remove damaged branches after flowering.
- Repotting: every two to three years, in spring, in ericaceous soil.
A pine bark mulch on top of the pot helps retain moisture and slightly acidifies the substrate.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its cream variegation brightens dark corners without taking up space, and pairs well with balcony plants suited to the same exposure.
- For a palette of whites, plant a 'Double Ellen White' Lenten rose nearby — its snow-white flowers from February to April echo the cream of the leaves.
- For a contrast of textures, pair it with a Korean fern — its solid dark green makes the cream margins stand out.
- For a foliage planter, plant a Carex 'Ice Dance' at the edge — its cream edging echoes the variegation, with fine leaves that cascade down.
- To enhance the pot, choose the Capi Nature Groove taupe pot — its warm shade echoes the coppery color of the young shoots.
Its narrow growth habit allows you to line three up in a 60 cm planter for an evergreen border.
Verdeia tips
- Cut back branches that have turned green again: a completely green branch is more vigorous than the variegated ones and will eventually take over. Remove it at the base as soon as it appears.
- Don't worry about the winter red: it is a normal reaction to the cold, and the foliage turns green again in spring. It forms the basis of a winter balcony featuring cold-hardy plants.
- Protect it from heatwaves: above 30 °C, move the pot into full shade to prevent the cream margins from turning brown.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Colour Diamond'
- Common name: Variegated leucothoe, drooping leucothoe
- Family: Ericaceae
- Origin: horticultural selection, species native to the southeastern United States
- Dimensions on delivery: H45 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Growth habit: compact, dense and narrow, slow-growing
- Mature height: approximately 50 cm tall, 30 to 40 cm wide
- Flowering: clusters of slightly fragrant creamy-white bell-shaped flowers in May
- Exposure: partial shade to shade
- Watering: regular, keep the substrate consistently moist
- Soil type: ericaceous, acidic, humus-rich and well-drained soil
- Hardiness: down to -23 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, coppery then green with cream margins, red in cold weather
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: toxic to animals and children if ingested
- Decorative style: Graphic / Woodland / Patio
Each plant is unique: the width of the cream margins and the intensity of the winter red naturally vary depending on 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.