Mount Airy Fothergilla

Overview: A witch alder grown for its honey-scented white bottlebrush flowers and vivid yellow-orange-red fall foliage.

Mature size: Approximately 5–6 ft. tall and wide.

Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade; best flowering and fall color in more sun, though it tolerates shade better with some afternoon protection

Flowering season: Spring, before the leaves emerge

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5–8

Water needs: Average; tolerates both wet and dry soil once established

Special features: A vigorous hybrid noted for especially profuse flowering and reliable fall color. Native deciduous shrub with fragrant, bottlebrush-like white flower spikes (the show comes from the stamens, not petals) and outstanding, multi-colored fall foliage; slow-growing and long-lived; may sucker to form a colony over time if not managed; alkaline soil can cause chlorosis

Wildlife value: Bees and other early-season pollinators, drawn by the honey-scented flowers

Botanical name: Fothergilla x 'Mount Airy'

Category: Shrubs & Trees