Mountain Doghobble is a common shrub of streambanks in the Mountains with leathery evergreen leaves.

Mountain Doghobble is a southern Appalachian endemic, though it has escaped from cultivation in a few northern states.

McDowell Co., NC 4/16/2011.

The ornamental flowers, borne in pendant axillary racemes, appear in mid-spring.

Mountain Doghobble also occurs in the western Piedmont, immediately adjacent to the Mountains.

McDowell Co., NC 4/16/2011.

The arching stems can be so dense that they make traversing terrain difficult for dogs (as well as for humans), hence the name Doghobble.

Haywood Co., NC 5/9/08.

This species has been called by several different names: Leucothoe axillaris var. editorum (Fernald & Schubert) Ahles in Radford et al., L. editorum Fernald & Schubert by Fernald, and L. catesbaei (Walter) Gray by Small. Coastal Doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris) is similar, but occurs in the Coastal Plain.

Haywood Co., NC 5/9/08.

Immature fruit capsules, just after flowering.

Haywood Co., NC 6/13/2009.

Compared to Coastal Doghobble, Mountain Doghobble leaves are longer-pointed, the petioles are twice the length, and the racemes are twice the length.

Macon Co., NC 6/16/06.

Flower detail.

Macon Co., NC 6/16/06.