Drooping Leucothoe, Fetterbush, Dog Hobble 'Girard's Rainbow'

On Dec 6, 2013, sylvanj from Kiawah Island, SC wrote:

I haven't grown it in my garden because I believe it's too hot in the low-country, but I enjoy seeing it wild in the piedmont region of sc. I thought I'd just answer the question of the last commenter - When dog hunting for black bears was popular in the Appalachians, bears used to easily run through Leucothoe, the dogs would get stuck in the ropey stems of the thickets and lose the bear - hence the name doghobble

On Sep 25, 2012, woodspirit1 from Lake Toxaway, NC (Zone 7a) wrote:

These are very attractive plants with leathery shiny leaves. They tend to be the undergrowth in the woods beneath larger plants like wild rhoderdendron or mountain laurel. I have cut branches for arrangements in the past. I am not sure why they are called dog hobble. If anyone knows, please d-mail me.

On Oct 20, 2004, lmelling from Ithaca, NY (Zone 5b) wrote:

I am delighted each spring with the pinks, creams, and variety of other shades this plant displays on it's foliage. The petite flowers just add to the list of reasons you should have this plant. Instead of using mine as a foundation plant, I have it presiding over the focal area of one of my backyard gardens. I keep it pruned to about a 2.5' - 3' height and width each spring after it flowers. It takes pruning very well and is quite a hardy little addition. Mine is in a location that gets morning and evening sun (zone 5), but is sheltered from the hot midday sun by pine trees. We have springs running throughout this garden so watering is only necessary during the dryest and hottest of summers, which isn't very often. Although moist, this garden is well drained, being on a slope. Othe... read morer than pruning, I find it takes very little care, even during the harshest winter.

Deer will browse it - contrary to the note above that lists it as "deer resistant," however, when this happened to me the first winter I had it, I found it will spring back well should one of our 4-legged nemesis find it. I try to keep mine covered with netting during the winter months, which is enough to discourage this activity.