Burning Love Leucothoe

Burning Love Leucothoe (Leucothoe keiskei 'Burning Love')

Burning Love Leucothoe (Leucothoe keiskei 'Burning Love') is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its rich seasonal foliage color and graceful, mounding habit. A standout in shaded and partially shaded landscapes, this cultivar offers vibrant red new growth in spring, deep green summer foliage, and striking burgundy to purple tones in fall and winter. Its year-round interest and manageable size make it ideal for small gardens, woodland borders, and foundation plantings.

Distinctive Features

'Burning Love' is known for its dramatic color shifts, with fiery red leaves in spring that darken to glossy green by summer. As temperatures cool, the foliage deepens to shades of wine red and purple, providing strong winter color. Small, white, bell-shaped flowers bloom along the stems in spring. This slow-growing shrub maintains a compact, rounded form, reaching about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide at maturity.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial to full shade
• Soil: Moist, acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter
• Water: Moderate; consistent moisture preferred
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6�9

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Bright red spring growth and deep winter hues add striking contrast in shade
• Foundation Planting: Compact form suits shaded entryways and under-window plantings
• Woodland Gardens: Pairs well with hostas, heucheras, and ferns
• Mass Planting: Creates a colorful, evergreen carpet on shaded slopes or borders
• Container Planting: Excellent for shaded patios and courtyards

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Maintain even moisture, especially during establishment
• Pruning: Minimal; shape lightly after spring flowering if needed
• Fertilizing: Apply a fertilizer for acid-loving plants in early spring
• Mulching: Helps conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds
• Pest Resistance: Deer resistant and rarely troubled by pests

Why Choose Burning Love Leucothoe?

• Seasonal Color Shifts: Brilliant red spring foliage and rich winter tones provide year-round beauty
• Compact Size: Perfect for small spaces, containers, and low borders
• Shade Adaptability: Thrives in partial to full shade where other shrubs struggle
• Evergreen Foliage: Adds structure and color through every season
• Focal Point: Eye-catching foliage color draws attention in shaded plantings

Leucothoe keiskei 'Burning Love' delivers vibrant, year-round color and low-maintenance appeal, making it a smart and stylish addition to shade gardens, woodland borders, and compact landscape designs.