Leatherleaf

Chamaedaphne calyculata

Leatherleaf

bernd gliwa

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Chamaedaphne
Species:
Chamaedaphne calyculata

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
4-6 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr, may
Bloom Colors:
White
Evergreen Shrub:
Yes
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Wisconsin, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acleris oxycoccana, Archips myricana, Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Coenophila opacifrons, Coleophora ledi, Dawn Rustic (Xestia dilucida), Eugraphe subrosea, Melanchra assimilis, Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), obsoletana leafroller (Choristoneura obsoletana), Olethreutes nanana, Sparganothis daphnana, Syngrapha microgamma, Thaxter's Pinion Moth (Lithophane thaxteri), Yellow-washed metarranthis (Metarranthis obfirmaria), Young's Dart (Xestia youngii), Brown Elfin (Incisalia augustinus)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Frigid Bumble Bee (Bombus frigidus), Frigid Bumble Bee (Bombus frigidus), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
peaty, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
3.5 - 5.5 (strongly acidic to acidic)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
commonly found in bogs and wetlands

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o