The Compact Shrub That Thrives In Shade With Stunning Foliage Year-Round

Finding plants that both bring color to shady areas and grow successfully in the shade can be a challenge. Most flowering plants need sun to bloom, and plants that prefer shade tend to put their energy into foliage adaptations that support photosynthesis, rather than producing flowers. As you might imagine, a colorful foliage plant that thrives in shade is a real find, and a shade-loving plant that stays colorful year-round is practically a unicorn. Meet 'Burning Love,' a cultivar of the smallest of the Leucothoe varieties, Leucothoe keiskei. This plant is surely a candidate for the list of evergreen shrubs to brighten up your yard throughout the entire year.

The compact evergreen shrub grows no taller than about 3 feet and thrives in containers. Spring leaves emerging from 'Burning Love' are a vibrant red that turns deep green, glossy, and leathery as the plant matures. Its leaves later turn to an intense red-purple in the fall and winter. Though overshadowed by the showy foliage, bell-shaped white flowers bloom on 'Burning Love' in late spring to early summer. Even the vivid red stems provide color. The flowers support pollinators while the foliage shelters wildlife like small birds and mammals. This shrub does not particularly attract deer or rabbits, which mostly eschew its leathery leaves. True to its name, 'Burning Love,' is heat-tolerant. Disease and pest problems are rare. Best of all, 'Burning Love' is easy to care for, with just a few recommended maintenance guidelines.

'Burning Love' is hardy to USDA zones 6 through 8 and may be more cold-hardy than other members of the Leucothoe genus. Plant in spring or fall in rich, slightly acidic soil that drains well, digging a hole that is twice the size of the plant's rootball or using a container. Place in dappled or full shade. If you see scorched or bleached-looking leaves, your 'Burning Love' is likely getting too much sun. Water regularly to keep soil moist, but don't allow soil to get soggy. Give 'Burning Love' a light spring dose of fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants. Watch nitrogen levels, as too much will cause foliage to lose color.

'Burning Love' should not need much pruning, but if you want to give it some shape, prune following late-spring flowering. Some Leucothoe keiskei varieties can be propagated, but in the case of 'Burning Love,' propagating plants could cause you a legal headache since this cultivar is patented. As with all Leucothoes, 'Burning Love' leaves contain grayanotoxins, which are toxic to humans and pets and should not be ingested. Enjoy recreating the shady woodland setting of the shrub's Japanese origins, or use it in containers as an accent in shady areas. Whether integrating 'Burning Love' into an existing shade garden or starting a new one, you my find it helpful to know how to grow a gorgeous, healthy shade garden.