Zenobia pulverulenta

Common Names

Dusty Zenobia, Honeycup

Summary

Dusty Zenobia (Zenobia pulverulenta) is a southeastern U.S. Ericaceae shrub native to moist, sandy or peaty soils in boggy pine savannahs, shrub bogs, and pond margins, it forms a multi-stemmed, arching shrub typically 3 to 10 feet tall and 2 to 7 feet wide, with bluish-green, leathery leaves often coated with a powdery bloom and fragrant white bell-shaped flowers in May to June arranged in racemes, fall foliage commonly turns reddish-purple, in cultivation, it prefers acidic, moist, sandy or peaty, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, and tolerates boggy soils with established plants tolerating some drought, it is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, propagation is most reliable from softwood cuttings in early summer, or by layering or division in early spring, seed may not come true, in the landscape, it is suitable for accent planting or mass plantings, beds, borders, or containers, and is generally problem-free with no serious insect or disease problems, best fall color usually occurs with full sun.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-10 feet

Spread

4 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Acidic, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, moist soil.

Soil pH

5.5-6.0

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

Orange, Yellow, Red, Purple

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Very slowly

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds