Culture
Grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in part shade. Prefers a moist, cool, acidic soil. Can be grown in full sun, but must have good moisture. Does not tolerate drought or windy conditions. Although winter hardy to Zone 5, this shrub should be planted in a protected location and given a good winter mulch in the St. Louis area to insure winter survival. Suckers to form colonies.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Eubotrys racemosa, commonly called fetter bush or sweetbells leucothoe, is a deciduous suckering shrub that is native to damp woodland soils along streambanks, pond peripheries and swamps from Massachusetts to Florida to Louisiana. It typically grows to 3-8' tall and bears fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers (to 1/3") in racemes (to 4" long) in spring and summer. Flowers bloom in May-June. Flowers are followed by inconspicuous fruits (5-parted light brown capsules). Pointed, oblong to elliptic, glossy green leaves (to 2.5" long) have serrate margins. Leaves turn attractive shades of yellow, orange and red in fall. Synonymous with Leucothoe racemosa.
The genus name Eubotrys comes from the Greek suffix eu- meaning "good" or "beautiful" and the Greek botrys meaning "cluster" or "bunch" (such as grapes).
Specific epithet means with flowers in racemes.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Root rot and leaf spot can develop.
Uses
Small shrub for rock garden, on slopes, bank stabilizer, border, foundations or underplanting for larger shrubs.