Plant Profile: Agarista populifolia

The Florida Doghobble is a perennial shrub that can reach heights of up to 12 feet. This plant is known for its ability to produce suckers, making it an excellent choice for stabilizing moist, shaded stream banks. It serves well as a foundational or understory plant within woodland environments and can be pruned to maintain any desired height. The stems grow upright with an irregular branching pattern, showcasing new growth that starts as a copper-red hue before maturing to a glossy green. As one of the hardiest varieties of leucothoe, it can withstand significant pruning to manage its height.

This shrub thrives in partial shade but can also tolerate sunny conditions if provided with sufficient moisture. It flourishes best in cool, moist, acidic, and highly organic soils, typically blooming from mid-spring to early summer. The Florida Doghobble is not only visually appealing to bees, butterflies, and birds but also has juvenile leaves that are reportedly used in salads, although they are highly toxic if consumed.

It is often misidentified in the trade as Leucothoe axillaris or by the synonym Leucothoe populifolia.

**Seasons of Interest:**
- **Leaves:** Year-round
- **Blooms:** Spring
- **Nut/Fruit/Seed:** Fall

**Quick Identification Tips:**