“'ReJoyce' coastal doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris'ReJoyce') is one of those evergreen shrubs that genuinely gives you something interesting in every single season. Pollinator-friendly flowers and…”
Pulmonaria flavescens
'ReJoyce' Coastal Doghobble Offers Garden Color All Year
'ReJoyce' coastal doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris'ReJoyce') is one of those evergreen shrubs that genuinely gives you something interesting in every single season. Pollinator-friendly flowers and bright new growth pop up in spring, the stems and leaves bring great texture to the summer garden, and then the foliage turns these dramatic hues in fall and winter. It's a selection of a North American native shrub that stays compact and basically takes care of itself once you put it in the right spot.
Common name: 'ReJoyce' coastal doghobble
Botanical name: Leucothoe axillaris'ReJoyce'
Origin: This plant is a selection of Leucothoe axillaris, a species native to wet woods and swamps of the Southeast. 'ReJoyce' was actually discovered by plantsman Greg Joyce at his southern New Jersey nursery — it stood out for its incredible foliage colors. In 2025, it earned a spot on the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Gold Medal Plants list.
Flowers: In spring, you get these charming bell-shaped white flowers that hang in drooping clusters — they look a lot like Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica) flowers, and the bees absolutely love them.
Foliage: The evergreen leaves are long and narrow with a nice shiny surface, alternating along the arching stems in a really graceful way. New leaves come in coppery red in spring, then settle into green for summer. Fall brings red tones, and by winter the foliage deepens to a rich burgundy or dark purple — so gorgeous.
Size and habit: Those arching, spreading stems create a shrub about two to four feet tall and wide. You can use a single one as a specimen in a shady bed, or plant several together for a tall ground cover or low hedge.
Growing 'ReJoyce' coastal doghobble
How to grow it: Staying true to its wild roots, this evergreen shrub loves shade and moist, acidic soil. It can handle brief periods of wet soil and would work nicely on the middle to upper edges of a rain garden. Deer? They basically leave it alone. Coastal leucothoes usually don't need any pruning, but if you ever need to rejuvenate one, you can simply cut the stems right down to the ground. Hardy in USDA Zones 5–9. (If you're in Zone 5, give it a nice deep winter mulch.)
Images courtesy of Plants Nouveau
