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16 in stock
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'
Choose Rainbow Leucothoe for year-round evergreen color in a shady spot. Its arching, variegated foliage emerges with pink tones before maturing to green, cream, and bronze, giving interest long after flowering. The tradeoff: it performs best in consistently moist, acidic soil and is not a good choice for hot, dry sites.
Buy This If
You want evergreen color in the shade.
You want foliage interest instead of relying on flowers.
You want a compact shrub with four-season appeal that pairs with acid-lovers.
Skip This If
Your planting area dries out frequently.
You need heat or drought tolerance.
You want a large screening shrub.
Your landscape gets full sun all day.
PGNE Report Card
Category
Grade
Why
Landscape Impact
A-
Variegated evergreen foliage provides color in every season.
Growth Rate
B
Moderate growth once established.
Maintenance
A-
Requires little pruning beyond removing damaged branches.
Deer Resistance
A-
Deer usually pass this by, since the foliage deters browsing, though no plant is completely immune where pressure is severe.
Small Space Fit
A
Excellent for smaller beds and foundation plantings.
Screening Value
C
It adds evergreen structure but is not large enough for real privacy.
Our Experience
At PGNE, we'd recommend Rainbow Leucothoe for customers who struggle to find shrubs that add color in shady spots. It works particularly well beneath mature trees, alongside rhododendrons and pieris, or in foundation beds with morning sun and afternoon shade. Consistent soil moisture during establishment produces the best long-term performance.
Plant Facts
Botanical Name
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'
Common Name
Rainbow Leucothoe
Mature Height
3-5 ft
Mature Width
3-5 ft
Hardiness Zones
5a-8b
Spacing
3-4 ft
Sun
Part Shade to Shade
Moisture
Average to moist
Growth Habit
Arching, mounding evergreen
Evergreen
Yes
Native
No
Customers Usually Ask
Does it stay colorful all year?
Yes; new growth emerges pink before developing cream and green variegation, and cool weather often brings bronze and reddish tones.
Can it grow in full shade?
Yes; it performs well in full shade, though a little morning sun can enhance the foliage color.
Does it need acidic soil?
Yes; like rhododendrons and pieris, it does best in acidic, organically rich, evenly moist soil.
CLEARANCE
Shrubs Grown to Perform in New England
At Pro Growers of New England, our shrubs are grown and maintained locally to perform in true New England conditions. From flowering varieties to evergreen foundation plants, each shrub is properly spaced, pruned, and cared for to develop strong root systems and balanced structure before it ever reaches your landscape.
Unlike large online sellers that ship plants long distances, we invite you to visit our nursery, walk the rows, and inspect the exact shrubs available. You can see the size, health, and fullness in person — ensuring there are no surprises upon delivery.
I couldn’t be present when the tree was planted. I was very happy with the tree. It was planted correctly and at the proper height. As an arborist I see trees improperly planted frequently. Thank you!
They're very "leggy" right now but that's not unexpected in the fall. Otherwise, they look healthy, and we're looking forward to seeing them next year.
So far so good! Ordering was easy. So was pickup. We're looking forward to seeing how it does in the spring.
Jonathan Berenson
Showed up on time and planted it perfectly. I indicated a light we had to illuminate it and they placed it for optimal lighting. Worked fast and left a clean worksite. First rate!
Installation Service
Anonymous
They delivered three trees: a big linden, a big poplar and a little spice bush with install on the big trees. The install guys were great and professional and fast. All the trees looked good with minimal damage.
Northern Spicebush
Joseph Sico
I went up there today from Quincy MA to pick up two Blue Wichita Junipers and they were absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Chris and everybody from Pro Growers of New England!
Wichita Blue Juniper
Aileen Maconi
The plants are beautiful and all 13 were consistent in height and width. And at a fraction of the cost of other garden centers. Having the team that delivered them do the planting was one of the best values I can think of. They did a great job from start to finish and even helped me with my watering system which they didn’t have to do!
