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Chamaedaphne spp.
leatherleaf
Circumboreal (northern North America, Europe, Asia)
Overview
Chamaedaphne spp. is a genus with the single species C. calyculata, leatherleaf, an evergreen shrub in the heath family, Ericaceae, with a circumboreal range across the cooler Northern Hemisphere. It forms a low, much-branched bush 1 to 5 feet (30 to 150 cm) tall, spreading by underground runners to make dense thickets in bogs and on acidic, peaty wetland margins. The leathery, oblong leaves, 0.4 to 2 inches (1 to 5 cm) long, are dull green above and scurfy brown beneath, and they persist through winter, often bronzing in cold. In early spring, rows of small white, urn-shaped flowers about 0.25 inch (6 mm) long hang in one-sided leafy sprays at the branch tips. Dry rounded capsules follow. The plant is among the first shrubs to flower in northern bogs and is a defining plant of sphagnum peatlands. Its tissues contain grayanotoxins, as in many heaths, which are poisonous if eaten. It tolerates waterlogged, oxygen-poor, strongly acidic soils that exclude most woody plants.
Native Range
Chamaedaphne calyculata has a circumboreal distribution across northern North America, northern Europe, and northern Asia, growing in acidic bogs, fens, and peaty lake margins from the boreal zone into cool-temperate regions.Suggested Uses
Grown in bog gardens, acidic pond and lake margins, and wetland and habitat restorations in cold regions. It stabilises peat and carries early-season flowers for pollinators in boggy ground. It also forms cover for wetland wildlife.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 5'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Bloom Information
Flowering comes early, from late winter into spring depending on latitude, often while bogs are still partly frozen. The white urn-shaped flowers open in sequence along arching leafy sprays over several weeks. Bees and early pollinators work the flowers, and dry capsules ripen by late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dull green above, brown beneath, bronzing in winterGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Leatherleaf grows in full sun to part shade in permanently moist to wet, strongly acidic, peaty soil of pH about 3.5 to 5.5, and will not persist in dry or limey ground. It suits bog gardens, pond margins, and acidic wetland plantings where the roots stay wet. Cold-hardy to severe winters, it withstands ice and waterlogging that kill most shrubs. Plants spread by runners to form colonies and can be divided or layered. Growth is slow, and the shrub is largely free of pests. All parts are poisonous if eaten, containing grayanotoxins.Pruning
Little pruning is needed. Old, leggy stems can be cut back after flowering to renew the bush, and it resprouts from the base and runners. Thinning crowded colonies keeps them open.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons