Other Names:  Florida Hobblebush

Description:

This vigorous shrub takes pruning very well and can be maintained as a hedge; its an excellent choice for the natural or woodland garden; tolerant of dry conditions and droughts

Ornamental Features

Pipestem features dainty nodding white bell-shaped flowers with shell pink overtones at the ends of the branches in late spring. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The glossy pointy leaves remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Pipestem is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pipestem is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Pipestem will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in partial shade to shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.