Eubotrys racemosa

Common Names

Swamp Doghobble, Deciduous Swamp Fetterbush, Deciduous Fetterbush, Dog Hobble, Fetterbush, Pepper-Bush Swamp Fetterbush, Sweet-Bells, White-Osier

Summary

Eubotrys racemosa, commonly Swamp Doghobble or Sweetbells Leucothoe, is a deciduous shrub native to damp wetlands and woodland edges of the eastern United States, from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Texas, typically growing 3-8 ft tall and forming dense thickets by suckering; it bears racemes of fragrant white bell-shaped flowers in late spring to early summer, with leaves that are serrate, oval to oblong and 1-3 inches long, often turning red in fall, in cultivation it prefers moist, acidic soils and can grow in sun to partial shade; hardy in USDA zones 5-9; it tolerates wet soils but is not drought- or wind-tolerant, and is commonly used in borders, foundations, hedges, naturalizing, slopes, and woodland gardens; it can be propagated by cuttings of nearly ripe shoots or by seeds and forms colonies by suckering, with bloom time May-June and attraction for bees and butterflies.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-8 feet

Spread

36-72 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, acidic soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

4.5-6.5

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (April–June)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow, Orange, Red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium growth rate.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and root cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators