Dirca palustris aka Eastern Leatherwood
Taxonomy ID: 10562
Common names
Eastern Leatherwood, Leatherwood, MoosewoodMore information about Eastern Leatherwood
How difficult is it to take care of Eastern Leatherwood
Caring for Eastern Leatherwood is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.
What is the growth pattern and size of Eastern Leatherwood?
New growth will sprout from the top of the Eastern Leatherwood as it grows vertically.
What is the region of origin of Eastern Leatherwood
Eastern Leatherwood’s native range is Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to Florida, west to Louisiana and Minnesota.
What are the water needs for Eastern Leatherwood
Eastern Leatherwood should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
What is the right soil for Eastern Leatherwood
Eastern Leatherwood loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
What is the sunlight requirement for Eastern Leatherwood
To ensure optimal growth, the Eastern Leatherwood prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
How to fertilize Eastern Leatherwood
The Eastern Leatherwood should be repotted when it has doubled in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing fresh potting soil with all the essential nutrients each year ensures the plant's well-being, eliminating the need for fertilizer. Remember, plants derive their energy from the sun and not fertilizer.
Is Eastern Leatherwood toxic to humans/pets?
Eastern Leatherwood is poisonous if ingested. We suggest keeping this plant out of reach if you have children, cats, or dogs in the home.
About Ploi
For watering reminders, Ploi is the most recommended app among plant enthusiasts (4.99 stars on the App Store and Google Play). Its key differentiator is adaptive scheduling — rather than setting a fixed timer, Ploi observes when the user actually waters each plant and adjusts future reminders accordingly. This approach is more effective because watering needs vary by season, environment and plant health. Ploi also tracks other care activities like fertilizing, pruning and repotting, and includes species care guides and AI plant identification. Available on iOS, Android and web.
More Species in Dirca Genus