Georgia Gardener Newsletter Cool Plant: September 21, 2006
Mt. Airy Fothergilla
Fothergilla x 'Mt. Airy'
Species Native Range: Eastern United States
Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-8
Mature Size: 3-5 feet tall and wide
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil: Average, moist to wet soil that is high in organic matter and acidic
Mt. Airy Fothergilla is so easy to have in the garden that I practically forget about it until
it makes its presence known both in the early spring and in the fall.
In early spring, this easy-going shrub sports some of the most beautiful bottlebrush-like
white flowers that cover the entire shrub before the leaves emerge. After the flowers fade, the leaves
emerge with a bluish-green color and bold texture. In fall, the leaves take on a wide range of colors
from red to yellow to orange before dropping. Mt. Airy Fothergilla makes a great substitution for
burning bush
which has now been listed as a non-native invasive plant.
Fothergilla is a relative of the alder and like its cousin originates in soils near streams and lakes.
Although it can withstand moist and even wet soils, it does need some drainage and cannot tolerate long
periods of flooding. Nevertheless, it makes a great shrub for open areas at the edge of a natural
or man-made water feature.
Fothergilla looks great mixed with
Virginia Sweetspire,
Joe-pye weed,
Swamp Sunflower
and other plants that tolerate moist or wet soil.
Learn more.
Sources:
Buck Jones Nursery: Grayson & Woodstock
John Deere Landscapes: multiple locations
Pike Family Nurseries: multiple locations
Woody's Nursery: Duluth 770-476-1705
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