Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

fetterbush lyonia Ericaceae Lyonia lucida (Lam.) K. Koch Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: LYLU3
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen and thick, entire margins, elliptical, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, conspicuous vein parallels outside edge, shiny green above, lighter and dull beneath.
Flower: Small, 1/4 inch, white to pink, occurring in clusters in leaf axils.
Fruit: Woody, five-parted, round capsules, 1/3 inch in diameter, occurs in clusters from leaf axils.
Twig: Slender, angled, red and green, glabrous, flower buds obvious in leaf axils.
Bark: Brown, becoming split and finely shreddy.
Form: An arching, sprawling shrub, and 3 to 5 feet tall.
 Looks like: staggerbush - maleberry - coast leucothoe - swamp doghobble

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Additional Range Information: Lyonia lucida is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information