Moist conditions are essential for leatherleaf, a native ornamental shrub with arching racemes of bell-like flowers dangling below a procession of erect leaves. The ground-hugging shrub grows up to 3 feet tall and spreads non aggressively via rhizomes to form dense thickets of wiry stems. Like blueberry and other Ericaceaes, it produces small, white flowers in spring that eventually yield spherical capsules or berries. While leatherleaf's capsules are not edible, its evergreen leaves and profusion of flowers that give way to red fruits are a rewarding addition to wetter areas where other plants fail to thrive. Upward-facing, star-shaped seed pods extend interest into winter. Full or part sun is needed for prolific flowers and fruits. The shrub thrives in both poorly and well-drained acidic, peaty, or loamy soils. It's great for naturalizing wet areas or growing in moist gardens in dappled shade. Adding organic matter such as peat moss or compost can enhance soil acidity and improve moisture retention, mimicking the natural habitat.
Leatherleaf can be found throughout Canada, in the northeastern part of the US, and west to the Great Lakes states. It's listed as rare and potentially threatened in Ohio and is classified as an obligate wetland species, meaning it almost always occurs in wetlands. It's also found in bogs and is highly tolerant of acidic soils. It's often the first shrub to grow in bogs after sphagnum is established, and it frequently plays a major role in extending the bog mat. Because it is shade intolerant, leatherleaf usually begins to thin as tall shrubs become more established. This overshading, along with the draining or filling of bogs, contributes to the scarcity of the species.
The genus name means "ground laurel" in Greek. The common name is a reference to the leathery appearance of the leaves. It was formerly classified as Cassandra calyculata, and cassandra is another common name for the plant. This species can be distinguished from other ericaceous shrubs by the following combination of characteristics: alternate, evergreen leaves with small, brown scales on the undersides; white, urn-shaped, nodding flowers in a leafy, terminal raceme; and flattened, globular capsules with thickened sutures (https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/flowering-plants/leather-leaf).
Native habitats include shores of lakes, ponds and streams; peat bogs; and wetlands. Ideal for massed plantings. Use on banks of water features, as a specimen shrub, in mixed borders, and in rain or cottage gardens.
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 1-3' tall and wide.
Requires full or part sun.
Prefers acidic, peaty, moist to wet soil. Adapts to poorly or well-drained loamy soils.
In May/June, nodding white, pink-tinted flowers about ¼ inch long hang from the upper leaf axils in one-sided clusters. The tubular flowers are wider at the top than at the bottom, and the lips of the petals are rolled up. In August/September, round, reddish fruit capsules mature, eventually turning brown and persisting through winter.
Alternate, blunt-tipped, oval- to elliptical-shaped leaves are ¾ to 1½ inches long and somewhat leathery in appearance. Margins are finely toothed and slightly rolled under. The upper surfaces of the leaf are dark green with a smooth sheen, and undersides have small brown scales. Leaves turn purplish or reddish brown with pale yellow undersides in winter.
Stems are covered with tiny, brownish scales. Older branches turn gray and bark eventually exfoliates.
Wildlife Value:
Host plant for up to 15 species of Lepidoptera larvae, including brown elfin. Bees are the main pollinators, but butterflies, flies, and beetles also visit the flowers. The plant provides nesting cover for various wildlife, including toads, frogs, mallards, and several other duck species. Rabbits feed on the twigs and bark. Deer lightly browse the plant.
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
Native American Indians used leatherleaf to treat some ailments. Some groups used an infusion of leaves for fevers and a poultice of leaves for inflammations.
The fresh or dried leaves have been used to make a tea-like beverage. However, some reports indicate that boiling the leaves may release a toxin called "andromedotoxin." Therefore, it is recommended that the leaves be placed in a jar of cool water and left in a sunny place to make sun tea (https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-shrubs-leatherleaf-chamaedaphne-calyculata.html).