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
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
💎 Coppery young shoots edged in cream • 🌿 Green leaves with cream margins • ❤️ Red hues in cold weather • 🌘 Partial shade to shade • ❄️ Hardy to -23 °C • 🪴 Compact, narrow habit
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Colour Diamond' is a small evergreen shrub with cream-variegated foliage that changes color throughout the seasons. Native to a species from the moist woodlands of the southeastern United States, it suits shady terraces where space is limited, thanks to its narrow habit and slow growth.
Its fine, pointed leaves, 6 to 8 cm long, emerge coppery and edged in creamy white, then mature to green with cream margins. When cold weather arrives, the foliage takes on a red hue. In May, clusters of slightly fragrant creamy-white bells hang from the tips of the branches.
Which shrub with colorful foliage should you choose?
Ten evergreen shrubs from the catalogue, 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, 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 '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' — 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.
- 'Emerald 'n' Gold' spindle tree on a 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' on a 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 remain low-growing: place them in front of or at the base of standard-form shrubs.
Exposure & location
A woodland plant, it enjoys dappled light and is just as sensitive to drought as it is to heat waves: afternoon sun scorches the cream edges of its leaves.
- Exposure: partial shade to shade, with filtered light being ideal.
- Location: small north- or east-facing balcony, shaded windowsill, entrance, inner courtyard.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -23 °C — it stays outdoors in winter.
- Soil type: ericaceous, cool, humus-rich and well-drained soil — never calcareous or clayey.
On a balcony exposed to the dry winter cold, its leaves develop their most pronounced red tones.
Watering & care
It does not tolerate its pot drying out: testing the substrate with your finger in summer lets you water before the leaves droop, and a few days away should be planned for during hot weather.
- Watering: regular — keep the substrate moist in spring and summer, water less frequently in winter without letting it dry out.
- Water: rainwater or preferably limescale-free 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 keeps it cool and slightly acidifies the substrate.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
Its cream variegation brightens dark corners without taking up space: choosing its neighbors according to the light exposure makes it possible to pair it with shade plants with the same needs.
- For a white-on-white palette, plant next to it a Lenten Rose 'Double Ellen White' — 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 taupe Capi Nature Groove pot - its warm shade echoes the coppery colour of the young shoots.
Its narrow habit allows you to line three up in a 60 cm planter for an evergreen border.
Verdeia tips
- Prune branches that have turned green again: a completely green branch is more vigorous than the variegated ones and eventually takes over. Remove it at the base as soon as it appears.
- Don't worry about the winter red: this is a normal reaction to the cold; the foliage turns green again in spring. Our cold-hardy plants guide helps you create a winter balcony around it.
- 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
- Delivery dimensions: H45 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Habit: compact, dense and narrow, slow-growing
- Mature height: approximately 50 cm tall and 30 to 40 cm wide
- Flowering: clusters of slightly fragrant cream-white bell-shaped flowers in May
- Exposure: partial shade to shade
- Watering: regular, keep the substrate fresh at all times
- 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?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
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 to 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.