Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Enjoy year-round color with minimal care with the Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe or Leucothoe axillaris. This plant blooms in May when white, bell-shaped flowers dangle from long stems. The flowers are lovely, but this plant is all about foliage. New leaves are a copper color before settling into a rich mahogany hue. The shade-loving Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe is an evergreen, so it retains its lovely foliage throughout the winter.
Leucothoe is native to North America, so this plant requires very little care once it settles in. Use Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe to create leafy mass plantings. This shrub makes a dramatic impact when several are grouped together. Feature this plant in beds, borders, or any area of the yard that receives partial sun. Grow this plant as a perennial in zones 5 through 9.
Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe Care
Leucothoe can handle full sun, but it prefers partial shade. Plant this beauty in a spot that receives 3 to 4 hours of sunlight. This plant likes rich soil with high organic content and a neutral to acidic pH. The soil must promote drainage. Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe has average water needs and requires extra water when blooming or during a dry spell. Apply balanced fertilizer during the spring through mid-summer.
This shrub does not require a lot of pruning because it has an excellent natural shape. Remove dead or damaged growth when necessary and shape the plant when blooming is complete.
Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe Spacing
Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe has an upright, mounded growth habit. Plants reach 18 to 24 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Space Leucothoe about about 24 inches apart to create a dense, leafy look.
Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9 |
| Plant Type: Bushes |
| Light Exposure: Partial Shade (3 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 18 - 24 Inches |
| Mature Spread: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Spacing: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Habit: Mounded |
| Flower Color(s): White |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: Dark Green |
| Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering |
| Watering: Low |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Bees, Birds |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Borders, Edging, Hedges & Privacy, Mass Planting, Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Brand: American Beauties Native Plants |
| Common Name: Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: Leucothoe axillaris ' Squirt' |
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!