Margie Jenkins Leucothoe

Margie Jenkins Leucothoe (Leucothoe axillaris 'Margie Jenkins')

Margie Jenkins Leucothoe, Leucothoe axillaris 'Margie Jenkins', is a compact, shade tolerant evergreen shrub valued for its fine textured foliage, rich red bronze new growth, and glossy deep green summer color that shifts toward burgundy in cool weather. Slender, arching stems form a low mound that naturally layers and drapes over edges, making it an excellent choice for woodland borders, foundations, and slopes where you want four season interest without a large footprint. With its changing foliage tones and graceful form, Margie Jenkins Leucothoe provides quiet structure and a subtle focal point in shaded and partially shaded garden spaces.

Distinctive Features

Margie Jenkins Leucothoe typically grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, forming a spreading, mounded shrub with gently arching branches. New leaves emerge red bronze to copper, then mature to glossy dark green through the growing season before taking on burgundy highlights as temperatures cool. Narrow, lance shaped foliage is carried densely along the stems, creating a layered, slightly cascading look that softens hard edges and looks at home in naturalistic plantings. The combination of multi season color, compact size, and an elegant, arching habit makes this selection especially useful where you need a durable evergreen underplanting or low hedge in shade.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers partial shade to bright shade with morning sun and afternoon shade or dappled light; can tolerate a bit more sun where soil stays evenly moist.
• Soil: Thrives in moist, well drained, acidic soils rich in organic matter; avoid heavy clay, standing water, or strongly alkaline conditions.
• Water: Keep soil evenly moist during establishment; once rooted in, it appreciates consistent moisture but should not sit in saturated ground.
• Hardiness: Suitable for many temperate regions where broadleaf evergreens are grown, especially in sites protected from drying winter winds.
• Size: Forms a low, spreading mound about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, depending on climate and growing conditions.
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate grower that fills in steadily, making it easy to maintain in tighter beds and along shaded foundations.

Ideal Uses

• Woodland and Shade Borders: Pair with hostas, ferns, heucheras, and other shade perennials to bring evergreen structure and warm foliage color under trees and along property lines.
• Foundation Plantings: Tuck near porches, steps, and low windows where its compact form and shifting foliage color soften hard edges and provide four season interest.
• Slope and Bank Stabilization: Plant on gentle, shaded banks where the fibrous root system helps hold soil and the arching habit drapes naturally over contours.
• Path and Edge Plantings: Use along shaded walkways and bed edges so its flowing stems can spill slightly, softening transitions between hardscape and planting areas.
• Containers and Courtyards: Grow in shaded or partially shaded containers to bring evergreen texture and seasonal foliage color to patios, entries, and covered outdoor rooms.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply during dry spells, especially in the first few seasons, allowing the top of the soil to dry slightly between soakings but never letting the root zone bake completely dry for long periods.
• Pruning: Requires minimal pruning; if shaping is desired, lightly thin or shorten stems after flowering, preserving the natural arching habit rather than shearing into tight forms.
• Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a light feeding of an acid forming, slow release fertilizer or a top dressing of compost to support healthy foliage and root development.
• Mulching: Maintain a 2 to 3 inch layer of shredded bark or leaf mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and protect shallow roots, keeping mulch a few inches away from the stems.
• Seasonal Care: In colder or windy sites, provide some shelter from harsh winter winds and remove any winter damaged stems in early spring to keep plants looking clean and vigorous.

Why Choose Margie Jenkins Leucothoe?

• Multi Season Foliage Color: Red bronze new growth, glossy green summer leaves, and burgundy tones in cool weather keep shaded areas interesting all year.
• Compact, Graceful Habit: Low, arching form fits easily into foundation plantings, woodland borders, and containers without crowding other plants.
• Shade Friendly Evergreen: Provides reliable structure and year round cover in partial shade and bright shade where flowering shrubs may struggle.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, needs only routine watering, light feeding, and occasional pruning to maintain a tidy shape.
• Design Versatility: Works in woodland, naturalistic, and more formal plantings, pairing well with azaleas, hydrangeas, hollies, hostas, and ferns wherever you need an evergreen anchor and subtle focal point in the shade.

With its compact, arching habit, rich multi season foliage, and dependable evergreen presence, Margie Jenkins Leucothoe is an excellent choice for adding year round color, structure, and a refined focal point to shaded borders, foundations, and containers.