How to Care for Leatherleaf Chamaedaphne

The leatherleaf plant is named for its small, oval, leather-textured leaves. As a bog-loving plant, it's native to the northeastern United States and Canada, with some growing naturally throughout swampy areas of the Carolinas and Georgia. Leatherleaf features small, bell-shaped white flowers from April to June and is an evergreen in the heather family. Snow cover throughout the winter translates into more prolific flowering in spring and summer. Tannins from dropped and decaying leaves often give bog waters a reddish hue.

Things You'll Need

• Sterile potting mix
• Burlap
• Twine

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Place leatherleaf in the ground or a container in sterile garden or potting soil.

   • 2

     Place the plant in partial shade. In southern parts of the country, it must be protected from sunlight even when partially shaded.

   • 3

     Keep the soil moist. Leatherleaf is accustomed to growing in bogs and thrives on excess moisture.

   • 4

     Shelter outdoor plants from winter winds, which may damage the leaves. Provide a windbreak or cover the plant with burlap.