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swamp doghobble

Eubotrys racemosus · Ericaceae

swamp doghobble (Eubotrys racemosus)
Photo: (c) inbetweenbays, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · via iNaturalist

swamp doghobble (Eubotrys racemosus) is a perennial shrub in the Ericaceae family. It is native to North America. USDA records it as hardy in zone 3 and warmer, down to about -33°F.

At a glance

Typeshrub USDA
Lifecycleperennial USDA
Native statusnative USDA
Mature height13 ft USDA
Lightshade USDA
Water needmedium USDA
Growth ratemoderate USDA
Soil pH4.5–6 USDA
BloomMarch–April USDA
Flower colorWhite USDA
Hardiness zones3 and warmer USDA
Guild layershrub Derived
Nursery availabilityRoutinely Available USDA

USDA quoted from the USDA PLANTS database · Derived computed by a fixed rule from those columns. No value on this page is estimated.

Growing conditions

It tolerates full shade. USDA rates it as having moderate water needs. Its drought tolerance is rated low. It tolerates saturated, poorly drained ground well (USDA rates its anaerobic tolerance high). It is recorded on soils from pH 4.5 to 6 — acidic ground. Its cold limit is zone 3.

Size and growth

At maturity it reaches about 13 ft, making it a small tree or large shrub. It grows at a moderate rate.

Bloom period

USDA records a bloom period of March through April. Flowers are white.

A flowering date, not a pollinator rating.

Foliage, flower and season

Summer foliage is green, medium in texture. Its flowers are conspicuous. Its active growth period is spring. USDA rates its lifespan as moderate.

What the site needs to provide

USDA records it across sites receiving 45 to 50 inches of annual precipitation. It needs at least 210 frost-free days to finish its season. It roots to at least 12 inches. Fertility requirement: low — no feeding needed on ordinary garden soil.

Propagating it

Propagate it from seed, bare root and container stock. USDA records no cold-stratification requirement, so seed should germinate without a chilling period. Its seed spreads at a moderate rate. It spreads vegetatively at a slow rate.

Resilience and wildlife

Browsing animals find it moderately palatable, so expect deer and rabbits to take an interest. Its fire tolerance is rated high, and it can resprout after damage. Its growth form is recorded as multiple stem.

Role in a guild

Shrub layer. In a layered planting this is woody mid-level structure between the understory and the ground. The layer is derived by a fixed rule from growth habit and mature height.

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Tags

deciduoushedgewet-tolerantclay-tolerantacidic-soilnativeshade-tolerant

Related plants

Similar role and hardiness

Where this data comes from

Every value on this page comes from the USDA PLANTS database record for symbol EURA14, or is computed from those values by a fixed rule. Nothing here is estimated or model-generated. Where USDA publishes no value, this page omits the claim rather than filling the gap.

Read our full data sources and methodology.

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