Agarista populifolia

Agarista, or Florida Leucothoe, is a tall (8-12′), evergreen, shade-loving shrub, well suited to our hot and humid southern summers. It is found in coastal environments, in a few counties from NC to Florida, but it performs well in upland Piedmont clay-based soils. We have seen it planted under large, deciduous trees where it thrives with protection from the heat in summer, but with sunshine in winter. It can be a carefree, densely lush specimen with dark green, lustrous foliage, red-tinted new growth and a loose, arching habit. Alternatively, it can be maintained as a hedge as it responds so well to heavy pruning. In either case it produces lovely, honey-scented little white flowers in the spring which attract butterflies and bees.