Fothergilla

Colorful Combinations

Bursting with spring blossoms and fall color, fothergilla is an all-around great shrub. Plant it near a partially shaded entryway or patio where you can enjoy the sweet fragrance of its bottle-brushlike flowers each spring. Or add it to a perennial garden or shrub border for a bold display of fall color at the end of the season. Fothergilla's round, dense shape blends well with a host of different garden plants and container combinations. This multi-season shrub comes in two species: Fothergilla major, which grows 6 to 10 feet tall, and dwarf Fothergilla gardenia which reaches 3 to 5 feet tall.

Easy-Care Companions

Fothergilla looks particularly at home in woodland garden settings, where its informal structure can be appreciated. Plant this shrub with rhododendron hybrids such as 'Anna H. Hall' (pink buds that open to white flowers) and 'Roseum Elegans' (rosy lavender flowers) because they share the same soil requirements. Add large clumps of daffodils, snow drops, and other favorite spring bulbs for a bold early season show of color.

As both a wildlife nectar source and nesting spot, deer-resistant fothergilla is a favorite plant of other species of wildlife. Plant it alongside viburnum, spicebush, and elderberry to create a robust wildlife habitat in your own landscape. Blanket the area around the shrubs with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch to suppress weeds and pave the way for easy maintenance around equally easy-to-care-for shrubs.

Fothergilla Care Must-Knows

Fothergilla grows best in part sun or shade and acidic, well-drained, moist, nutrient-rich soil. Water this shrub regularly during the first growing season after planting. Once it establishes an extensive root system, it can withstand prolonged dry periods and rarely requires supplemental watering. Cover the soil around fothergilla with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch to suppress weeds and prevent soil-moisture loss. Light pruning may be needed once every so often to remove suckers at the base. Do not shear this shrub. Fothergilla has a pleasing informal branching habit and doesn't tolerate tight pruning well.

More Varieties of Fothergilla

Dwarf Fothergilla

This type of Fothergilla gardenii is a mounding type that grows 3 feet tall, making it perfect for a low hedge or edging plant. It's native to areas of North America. Zones 5-9

'Blue Shadow' Fothergilla

Fothergilla major 'Blue Shadow' sports steely blue foliage that creates a cool contrast with bright green and gold-color plants. It grows to 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Zones 5-8

'Beaver Creek' Fothergilla

This variety of Fothergilla gardenii is a compact, neatly mounded selection that grows 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-8

Large Fothergilla

Fothergilla major is a great background shrub for the shade garden that grows 8 feet tall and wide. It's native to areas of North America. Zones 5-9