Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Little Flames' (Flame 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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Frequently asked questions
Can it be used to create a small hedge? Yes. Its compact, narrow growth habit, around 50 cm tall and 30 to 40 cm wide, allows you to line several up in a planter or along a border.
Does it need ericaceous soil? Yes. It does not tolerate lime: when planted in a pot, use ericaceous soil and preferably water it with rainwater.
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.
🔥 Flame-red tips in winter • 🍂 Coppery young leaves • 🌿 Glossy green in summer • 🌘 Partial shade to shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -20 °C • 🪴 Compact, narrow habit
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Little Flames' is a small evergreen shrub whose branch tips blaze red when the cold arrives. A European horticultural selection (the Netherlands), developed by the Van Opstal nursery, it is one of the mini shrubs in the catalog designed for small spaces.
Its long, pointed leaves, 6 to 10 cm long, emerge coppery in spring before maturing to glossy green. In autumn and winter, the tips of the branches turn red and glossy purple, like little flames above the green foliage. In May, short clusters of slightly fragrant creamy-white bells hang from the ends of the stems.
Which colorful-leaved shrub should you choose?
Ten evergreen shrubs from the catalog, chosen for their foliage rather than their flowers:
- Leucothoe 'Little Flames' (this plant) — green leaves with flame-red tips in winter and coppery new growth. The best suited to a small hedge.
- 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 'Burning Love' — smooth, narrow leaves, burgundy red in spring, purple in winter. The deepest purple, with an arching habit.
- Leucothoe 'Colour Diamond' — coppery new growth 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 through the seasons.
- Leucothoe 'Curly Gold' — curly golden and acid-green leaves, compact. The brightest in full shade.
- Japanese aralia 'Spider Web' — large white-speckled palmate leaves, 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 base of standard shrubs.
Exposure & position
Like other leucothoes, it grows naturally in damp woodland: it likes soft light, and its roots must remain cool. Hot summer sun dries out its leaves.
- Exposure: partial shade to shade; morning sun is acceptable if the substrate remains moist.
- Position: small north- or east-facing balcony, along a path, or in a planter along a railing.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -20 °C - it stays outdoors in winter.
- Soil type: ericaceous compost, moist, light and well drained — never chalky or clayey.
The red tips are more vivid in a position that receives morning sun in winter.
Watering & care
It tolerates neither drought nor standing water: testing the substrate with your finger indicates when to water, and a few days away in summer should be planned so the pot does not dry out.
- Watering: regular — keep the substrate consistently moist in spring and summer, and water less often in winter without letting it dry out.
- Water: preferably rainwater or limescale-free water.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for ericaceous plants in spring.
- Pruning: light pruning after flowering to maintain a dense shape or form a small hedge.
- Repotting: the following spring, into a slightly wider pot, using ericaceous compost.
A pine bark mulch on top of the pot helps retain moisture and slightly acidifies the substrate.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its red tips add warmth to winter arrangements, alongside balcony plants suited to the same exposure that flower in the same season.
- For a winter planter, plant a Christmas rose 'Diamonfire' alongside it — its cream-white clusters on red stems echo the red tips of the leucothoe from December to March.
- To brighten the base, plant a Carex 'Ice Dance' at the edge of the pot — its cream margin brightens the green foliage.
- For a contrast of textures, pair it with a Korean rock fern — its delicate fronds soften the long, pointed leaves.
- To enhance the pot, choose the Capi Nature Skin anthracite pot — the dark gray makes the red tips stand out in winter.
Planted three to a 60 cm planter, they form a low evergreen hedge that turns red every winter.
Verdeia tips
- Don't worry about the winter red color: it is a normal reaction to the cold, not a disease. The tips turn green again in spring when the new coppery shoots appear. It forms the basis of a winter balcony featuring cold-hardy plants.
- For a dense hedge, pinch in spring: shortening the tips of young shoots by a few centimeters encourages the plant to branch from the base.
- Protect the pot from dry winds: cold wind dries out evergreen foliage more than frost. Against a wall or solid railing, it will make it through winter intact.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Little Flames'
- Common name: Flame leucothoe
- Family: Ericaceae
- Origin: horticultural selection from Europe (the Netherlands), species native to the southeastern United States
- Dimensions on delivery: H40 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Growth habit: compact, dense and narrow
- Mature height: approximately 50 cm tall, 30 to 40 cm wide
- Flowering: short clusters of slightly fragrant cream-white bell-shaped flowers, in May
- Exposure: partial shade to shade
- Watering: regular, substrate always moist
- Soil type: ericaceous, acidic, humus-rich and well-drained soil
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, coppery then glossy green, red tips in winter
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: toxic to animals and children if ingested
- Decorative style: Graphic / Woodland / Terrace
Each plant is unique: the extent and intensity of the red tips 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.