Plant Care Highland Doghobble

Highland Doghobble

About Highland Doghobble

Mountain Dog hobble is a 3 to 6 feet tall evergreen shrub with sharply toothed leaves on arching stems. It grows best in part shade, but can also be grown in full shade or full sun. This plant is naturally found in very wet places such as ravines and streambanks. It is hardy to USDA Zone 5 but should be planted in a protected location and given a good winter mulch.

Taxonomy

Leucothoe fontanesiana
Leucothoe
Ericaceae
Ericales

Also known as

highland doghobble, fetter-bush, mountain doghobble and switch ivy

How to care for Highland Doghobble

💦 Water

How often to water your Highland Doghobble

Water needs for Highland Doghobble
0.5 cups
every 9

Highland Doghobble needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Highland Doghobble

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Highland Doghobble in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Highland Doghobble: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Highland Doghobble may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Highland Doghobble in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Highland Doghobble

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Highland Doghobble: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Highland Doghobble after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Highland Doghobble is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!


💦 Water Needs

Highland Doghobble prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Highland Doghobble may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Highland Doghobble is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


🪴 Soil

Highland Doghobble does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!


💩 Fertilizer

Highland Doghobble grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Highland Doghobble grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Highland Doghobble can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Highland Doghobble, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Highland Doghobble

Highland Doghobble

Highland Doghobble


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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