Rainbow Fetterbush
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'
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Rainbow Fetterbush - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Rainbow Fetterbush highlights at a glance!
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones5, 6, 7, 8
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Shade
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Fall Color
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Pollinator FriendlyYes
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Pollinator Required
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodEarly Spring, Late Spring
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NativeYes
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FragrantYes
Growing Zones 5-8
Shade-Loving Variegated Rainbow Fetterbush
- Rare Evergreen Perfect for Shade and Partial Shade
- Drooping Shape with Freeform Texture
- Gracefully Arching Branches Covered with Attractive Pointed Leaves
- Striking Red, Zigzagging Stems
- Showy Leaves Variegated Mix of Bronze, Pink, Cream and Dark Green
- Fragrant, Creamy-White Flowers with Tender Pink Bud Clusters
- Great Cut Flower Arrangements
- Burgundy Fall Color
- Very Easy Care
- Commonly Called Dog Hobble
- Deer Don't Prefer the Taste
Designers love the gracefully arching form and dynamic variegated foliage of Rainbow Fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'). These eye-catching accent shrubs are such an easy way to brighten up your shady spots.
Each leaf is a masterpiece of bronze, cream, pink and deep green. No two leaves are alike, and the shrub delivers an outstanding display year-round.
The foliage stays evergreen and is held on striking long, red stems that twist and turn back and forth. This multi-stemmed evergreen shrub is a cane-grower that adds an airy, breezy texture.
Savvy gardeners look for plants to add kinetic movement. Long Rainbow Leucothoe canes spin and twirl, playing in the wind. As the foliage ruffles and flutters, its calming susurrus also covers up any discordant urban sounds nearby.
Rainbow is a special variety that also features fragrant flowers. Showy drooping clusters of bright pink flower buds appear at the ends of the canes; and open in early spring to bell-shaped white blooms.
Let their fragrance delight you and your guests. Place Rainbow Fetterbush in a high-profile area, so everyone will enjoy their scent.
Cut the flowers and foliage for filler in cut flower arrangements. Or, let them remain as an early nectar source for honey bees and butterflies.
In fall, the foliage burnishes to a burgundy hue. It's a glorious display to celebrate the end of the season.
With vibrant coloration, versatility, and carefree nature, Rainbow is a hard-working addition to the garden. No wonder we have professional garden designers visiting our site looking for this beautiful workhorse.
Order in-demand Rainbow Fetterbush today!
Our expert plantsmen take great pride in developing magnificent, commercial-grade plant material for you. Inventory is limited, so we recommend that you order enough to finish your project at once to avoid disappointment.
How to Use Rainbow Fetterbush in the Landscape
Rainbow Fetterbush can be a single specimen, a long hedge and a mass planting to brighten and fill an open shady area. It's impossible to go wrong with this delightful plant.
It's best to select protected sites that are not windswept. Rainbow Fetterbush can enliven mature evergreen trees planted in a generous drift in a new mulched bed.
Add them to mixed borders as a soft, year-round filler with gorgeous ornamental features. Repeat their use at the edge of the woods to create a splashy Fairy Path.
Use Rainbow Fetterbush to be a visual bridge for many nearby plants. The foliage compliments flowering plants on both the warm end of the spectrum, as well as cool-toned blooms.
It is a natural companion plant to Rhododendron, because this Leucothoe thrives in acid soil and in full to partial shade. It will also tolerate sun if the soil remains damp, and is not allowed to dry out.
Use as lush facer shrubs to easily hide the bare stems of "leggy" plants placed behind them. Keep them clipped or give them room to spread out.
Weave multiples throughout your landscape. Tie the whole look together with these colorful evergreen shrubs.
To create a solid hedge, plant them three to five feet apart on center. Go closer for a fuller look, or if you'll keep them trimmed up. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.
#ProPlantTips for Care
No need to worry about sun conditions, but you do need to plant in a sheltered spot protected from winter winds. This is especially true in the coldest zones.
They prefer well-drained soils that are kept evenly moist. Apply supplemental water as needed, and utilize a three-inch layer of pine bark or pine straw mulch to cover the root system to cut down on surface evaporation.
Prune in late winter to shape. Rainbow Fetterbush can be easily maintained as small as one to two feet tall and wide.
Periodic renewal pruning keeps your mature plants vigorous. You can cut it back to a few inches from the ground in the late winter.
Fertilize with an organic formula for acid-lovers in early spring. Follow the application rates on the package.
Get incredible multicolored foliage on an evergreen that performs beautifully in shade. Order Rainbow Fetterbush today!
