Leucothoe Scarletta® 'Zeblid' (Scarlet leucothoe) — H45 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Regular price
-
€32,95 - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
€32,95
Couldn't load pickup availability
Frequently asked questions
How large does it grow? It is the largest of the leucothoes: it reaches approximately 1 m in height when mature and spreads wider thanks to its arching branches. Plan for a large pot in the long term.
Does it need ericaceous soil? Yes. It does not tolerate lime: when grown in a pot, plant it in 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.
❤️ Dark red young leaves • 🌿 Glossy green edged in red • 🍂 Burgundy bronze in winter • 🌘 Partial shade to shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -20 °C • 🏆 Awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society
Leucothoe Scarletta® 'Zeblid' is an evergreen shrub with arching branches, whose foliage changes from dark red to glossy green, then bronze throughout the seasons. A horticultural hybrid awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, a distinction given to the most reliable garden plants, it is the largest of the leucothoes among our outdoor plants.
Its young, fine, pointed leaves emerge dark red in spring, then mature to glossy green, often edged in red. In autumn, they take on coppery tones, then burgundy bronze in winter. In late spring, small white bells line the stems. At maturity, it reaches around 1 m in height and spreads even farther.
Which shrub with colorful foliage should you choose?
Ten evergreen shrubs from the catalog, chosen for their foliage rather than their flowers:
- Leucothoe Scarletta® 'Zeblid' (this plant) — 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, 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, then 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.
- Leucothoe 'Curly Gold' — golden and acid-green curly 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 location.
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.
Light & location
It grows naturally in woodland: it likes soft light and a location sheltered from the wind, and tolerates morning sun. The sun during the hottest hours, however, scorches its leaves in summer.
- Exposure: partial shade to shade, morning sun accepted if the substrate stays moist.
- Location: north- or east-facing terrace, against a wall, large entrance planter, low hedge in the shade.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -20 °C - it stays outdoors in winter.
- Soil type: ericaceous compost, moist, rich in organic matter and well-drained — never chalky.
Its arching branches droop with age: a raised pot or one placed on a low wall showcases their curve.
Watering & care
Like all leucothoes, it requires a permanently moist substrate: testing the substrate with your finger indicates when to water, while browning leaf tips in summer signal that the pot has stayed too dry or received too much sun.
- Watering: regular — keep the substrate constantly 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: after flowering, cut the oldest branches back to the base to rejuvenate the clump and encourage new red shoots.
- Repotting: the following spring, then every two years into a wider pot, using ericaceous compost.
A pine bark mulch on top of the pot keeps the soil cool and slightly acidifies the substrate.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its spring red and winter bronze make it a colorful backdrop for shade plants, especially on a balcony with little sun.
- For an arrangement of acid-loving plants, pair it with the Camellia 'Nuccio's Gem' — they have the same acidic soil requirements, and its white flowers stand out against the red-edged foliage.
- For a burgundy color scheme, plant a Lenten rose 'Double Ellen Red' at its base — its purplish burgundy flowers from February to April echo the winter hues of the foliage.
- For a contrast of textures, pair it with a Korean rock fern — its fine fronds soften the glossy, pointed leaves.
- To enhance the pot, choose the taupe Capi Nature Groove pot — its light color makes the red and bronze foliage stand out.
Its long arching branches, cut in winter, add volume and bronze tones to a seasonal bouquet.
Verdeia tips
- Rejuvenate it every two or three years: cutting one-third of the oldest branches back to the base after flowering encourages young dark red shoots to grow from the base.
- Don't worry about the winter bronze: it is a normal reaction to the cold, not a disease. It forms the basis of a winter balcony featuring cold-hardy plants.
- Make room for it: delivered at 45 cm, it reaches approximately 1 m within a few years. Repot it gradually into a container at least 40 cm in diameter.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Leucothoe Scarletta® 'Zeblid'
- Common name: Scarlet leucothoe
- Family: Ericaceae
- Origin: horticultural hybrid, genus originating in the woodlands of the southeastern United States
- Delivery dimensions: H45 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Habit: bushy, arching branches
- Mature height: approximately 1 m tall, wider than it is high
- Flowering: small white bells along the stems, in late spring
- Exposure: partial shade to shade
- Watering: regular, substrate always moist
- Soil type: ericaceous soil, acidic, humus-rich and well-drained
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, dark red then glossy green edged in red, burgundy bronze 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 leaves and the intensity of the edging 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.