Dirca palustris

Dirca palustris is commonly known as Leatherwood or Wicopy. Native to eastern Canada, Leatherwood is an attractive, long-lived, slow-growing, shrub. Its beautiful foliage emerges yellowish green in spring, matures to green, and turns a striking yellow in fall. It grows up to 6 feet in height and 6 feet wide. The stems of Eastern Leatherwood are very pliable and have leathery, strong bark. These extremely flexible stems were used by Indigenous Peoples to make baskets, fishing line, and rope.

Leatherwood produces attractive small, lemon-yellow, bell-shaped flowers in pendulous clusters of three in early spring. The fruit of Leatherwood is a green, oval-elliptic drupe with a ½ inch diameter. It is not edible and is considered toxic.

The species name ‘palustris’ means ‘of the swamps’ or ‘marsh-loving’ in reference to the moist to wet soil preference of this plant. A shade-loving shrub, Eastern Leatherwood can be used as a specimen plant, or in woodland and shade gardens. Dirca palustris has no serious pest and disease issues. Note: Some people can be allergic to the bark. The bark, roots, and fruits of this shrub can be toxic.