NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

lucida

Shining Fetterbush, Fetterbush Lyonia, Shinyleaf, Fetterbush, Staggerbush

Shrub

Perennial

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

3-6 ft., 6-12 ft.

Pink

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Moist, Wet

Feb, March, April, May, June

Sandhills, Coastal Plain

Pocosins, wet woodlands, blackwater swamp forests, other acidic wetlands, especially if peaty (Weakley 2015). Common in NC Coastal Plain.

Alternate

Evergreen

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Simple

Perennial

Has some wildlife value

Suitable for home landscapes

S5: Secure ^(*Key)

G5 - Secure ^(*Key)

"Soil Description: Moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Conditions Comments: Very difficult to keep in good condition under normal conditions of cultivation. Tends to become weak and susceptible to leaf spot under even mild stress. To avoid this, plant in moist soil with good drainage and then avoid the typical, heavy lawn watering. Can take brief seasonal flooding, though...A glossy-leaved, showy-flowered, evergreen shrub for naturalizing in masses within its range." Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

Shining Fetterbush, with its beautiful evergreen foliage, is often found in small colonies.

Paynter, Wilmington, March 2011

Flower buds

Wilmington, March, 2011

Flowers

Carolina Beach State Park, April, 2010

Persistent seed capsules help identify the plant in winter.

Also look for leathery leaves with a vein running along the margin and young, bright green twigs that are flattened with loose dark scales.

Wilmington, March, 2011

USDA PLANTS Database Record