Leatherwood
Dirca palustris
Last reviewed: September 2026
Dirca palustris is a deciduous shrub that flowers with small pale yellow blooms in March and April, growing well in part shade and moist, humus-rich woodland soils.
Toxicity unknown
Leatherwood (Dirca palustris) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
48"–120" H × 48"–120" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
AL, CT, DE, FL and 27 more states
Pollinators
bees, flies
Before you buy
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Leatherwood is a rare native shrub with distinctive yellow flowers that bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge. It has smooth gray bark and oval leaves that turn yellow in fall, creating a naturally rounded form.
Growing Leatherwood
Grow Leatherwood in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 48 to 120 inches tall and spread 48 to 120 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Leatherwood takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Looks bare and sparse when dormant
- Informal woodland appearance
- Can appear unkempt without leaves
Wildlife value
The early spring flowers provide nectar for bees and flies when few other sources are available. The flexible branches and dense growth provide nesting sites for birds.
Common questions
- When does Dirca palustris bloom?
- Dirca palustris flowers in March and April, opening small pale yellow blossoms on bare stems before its leaves unfold.
- What pollinates leatherwood flowers?
- Bees and flies visit and pollinate the early spring flowers of Dirca palustris, taking advantage of one of the first nectar sources available in the woodland season.
- What light and moisture does leatherwood need?
- Leatherwood does best in part shade with medium to consistently moist, well drained soil, reflecting the woodland understory conditions where it typically grows.
- Does leatherwood keep its leaves year round?
- No. Dirca palustris is deciduous, losing its leaves in fall and flowering on bare wood again the following spring.
- What growth habit does Dirca palustris have?
- It grows as a small, rounded, multi stemmed shrub, generally low and slow growing, making it suitable as an understory planting in shaded garden beds.
- Is Leatherwood HOA-friendly?
- Leatherwood takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Leatherwood? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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