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 Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Partial Shade (3-4 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 1-2 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2-3 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Squirt™ Compact Leucothoe
- Botanical Name
- Leucothoe axillaris ' Squirt'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
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
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 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.
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: 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!