Leucothoe fontanesiana Makijaz

Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Makijaz', poetically nicknamed Pearl Flower, is a small evergreen and colourful bush, highly ornamental and perfectly hardy, with a spreading and compact habit that adapts wonderfully to the decoration of shaded terraces and balconies. It bears long leaves whose shades vary throughout the seasons. Pink when budding, they become green and beautifully splashed and speckled with white, blush in summer, and then take on a delightful purple hue in autumn. The plant is adorned in spring with slender short and pendulous clusters covered with pinkish flowers. This variegated variety resists foliage diseases well. It prefers acidic and moist soils, and shows a preference for dappled light.

Leucothoe fontanesiana is a plant from the Ericaceae family, like heathers and rhododendrons, with which it shares a pronounced taste for acidic soils and shade. This evergreen bush of modest size grows in the humid undergrowth of the southeastern states of the United States. 'Makijaz', from which it originates, has a dense, spreading and compact habit. It will reach a height of 50cm (19.7in) and a spread of 80cm at maturity. Its wonderfully variegated foliage is its main asset. It consists of long leaves measuring 6 to 10cm (2.4 to 3.9in), 2 to 3cm (0.8 to 1.2in) wide, long and tapering, with a pointed tip. Each leaf is unique, but together they are the seat of a changing dance of colours from spring to winter. This bush is also called Pearl Flower for its spring flowering that appears at the end of the branches. This appears in the form of clusters measuring 7 to 15cm (2.8 to 5.9in), made up of slightly scented bell-shaped flowers, white to very pale pink.

A hardy bush, Leucothoe 'Makijaz' likes acidic, moist, humus-rich, and well-drained soils. Its dense and evergreen silhouette is a perfect 'trunk cover' that can be advantageously placed at the base of light trees or shrubs with bare trunks. It forms a beautiful duo with Nandinas. It can be combined with medium-sized perennials such as hellebores or ferns, winter heathers (Erica darleyensis), in front of shrub beds composed of Pernettyas, azaleas, Symphoricarpus, or Pieris, or even grown alone. It also grows very well in pots, with shade and regular watering. Its presence will bring a very personal touch to the terrace or balcony.