Dusty zenobia is a deciduous to evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family that is native to portions of southeastern US oastal plain from Virginia to Georgia. It is native to moist soils in sandy or peaty pine savannas, shrub bogs, pond/swamp margins, and natural depression ponds. While it is mostly deciduous in USDA zones 6 and 7, it is semi-evergreen south of zone 7. This shrub has showy green to bluish-green foliage. It is intolerant of heat and drought. Dusty zenobia may not grow true from seed so propagatate it via softwood cuttings in early summer and layering or division in early spring.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Multi-stemmed; Open; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Undulate
Leaf feel
Leathery; Waxy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, leathery waxy smooth on both surfaces with undulate margins. Leaves are blue-green in the spring and summer and red-purple in the fall.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Fragrant flowers bloom in the late spring to early summer (April-June).
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
5 valved capsules that appear between September to October