Is Coast Leucothoe deer resistant?
Leucothoe axillaris
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 5–8LightFull shade to part shade
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range10 US states
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Coast Leucothoe
Lower and more compact than drooping leucothoe, with the same acid soil and shade requirements. Bronze winter foliage on the better forms.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 4.5 to 6
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 47 to 71 in apart
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Evergreen
Similar to Coast Leucothoe
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Antelope BitterbrushPurshia tridentataSeldom damaged
- Anthony Waterer SpireaSpiraea x bumaldaZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Apache PlumeFallugia paradoxaZones 6–10Seldom damaged
- Armstrong JuniperJuniperus chinensis 'Armstrongii'Zones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn OliveElaeagnus umbellataZones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn SageSalvia greggiiZones 6–9Seldom damaged
Where Coast Leucothoe grows
Hardy across most of these 49 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginianative
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolinanative
- Tennessee
- Georgianative
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delawarenative
- West Virginia
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 10 US states in total.
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Every list Coast Leucothoe belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Coast Leucothoe
- Is Coast Leucothoe deer resistant?
- Coast Leucothoe (Leucothoe axillaris) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Coast Leucothoe grow in?
- Coast Leucothoe is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Coast Leucothoe grow in shade?
- Yes. Coast Leucothoe tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- Is Coast Leucothoe toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Coast Leucothoe as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.