Leatherwood

Other names

Wicopy, Moosewood

Growth habit

Shrub

Native distribution

Native to the Finger Lakes Region, New Brunsw. and Ont. South to FL and MO

Cultivation

A 4-6' tall deciduous shrub with small, bell-shaped, lemon-yellow flowers in early spring.
Light: part to full shade Moisture and Soil: Prefers organically rich, moist, slightly acidic soil. Dislikes dry soils.

Biocultural value

Several Native American groups used the tough, pliant bark as a fastener or twisted it into cordage. Medicinally, it was employed as a kidney/urinary medicine, cathartic, emetic, and internal analgesic.

Wildlife value

Leatherwood's yellow, petal-less flowers attract a variety of small to medium-sized bes in early spring, including carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada cuneata), mason bees (Osmia lignaria), Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), plasterer bees (Colletes inaequalis), and Andrenid bees (Andrena rugosa). Mourning cloak butterflies (Nymphalis antiopa) also visit the flowers seeking nectar. A number of insects feed on the bark and foliage, including the leaf-mining larva of a specialist moth, Leucanthiza dircella. Most mammalian herbivores avoid eating the toxic foliage.

Poisonous

yes

Poisonous description

The bark, fruit, and roots of this plant are toxic. Some people have allergic reactions upon contact with the bark.

Location

Mundy Wildflower Garden, Floriculture War Memorial Trail, Comstock Knoll and Rhododendron Collection, McLean Bogs, Eames Bog

Source of plant

Gardens North, Cornell Botanic Gardens, Orchid Gardens, Cornell Botanic Gardens

Description

Much-branched, rather dense oval to rounded shrub when grown in cultivation in full sun. In the wild thehabit tends to be irregularly open and spreading. Flowers perfect, pale yellow, 3 to 4 per inflorescence,not outstanding but interesting due to their March to April flowering date. Bark light brown becoming oliveor darker, with conspicuous small white lenticels, very leathery.

USDA Hardiness Zone

4

Special characteristics

flowering season, bark

Status

L3|S5|G4