In early spring, the
flower puffs on Fothergilla appear at the end of the branches. They look like
soft, little bottlebrushes. The flowers have a honey-like fragrance and attract
native bees and moths.
Following the flowers, the
shrubs leaf out and the rest of the appeal of this plant soon becomes clear.
The foliage is fuzzy and often has a blue-ish cast in spring. In the autumn,
the foliage practically glows with seasonal colors.
The tag may say “full
sun,” but partial shade will do. Also, in our region’s hot summers, some
shelter from the afternoon sun is best.
During the first
year, it will need consistent watering, while its roots establish themselves.
After that, it should be fairly drought-tolerant.
Fothergilla prefers acidic,
moist, but not wet, soils. If yellow leaves appear, that may possibly indicate
alkaline conditions, which are not favored by Fothergilla species. Soil
amendments appropriate for Azalea and Rhododendron, work for Fothergilla as
well. Apply them in early spring.
There is no need for pruning!
Let it grow and assume its natural form. Remove only broken, dead, or crossing
branches. It is fairly slow-growing, but will sucker and colonize over time. If
you have the space, let it.
This small shrub
looks best in groupings of three or five and paired with other woodland native
plants like Dogwood, Itea, and Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia).
You will find that the
Fothergilla ‘Mt. Airy’, Dwarf/Coastal
Fothergilla (Fothegilla gardenia), and Fothergilla ‘Blue Shadow’ do the
best in our region and are fairly commonly available at your local, independent
garden center.
See the Washington Gardener Magazine April2017 cover story for much more about this fascinating plant.
Try planting a Fothergilla in your garden today – you can
grow that!
The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine and edited by intern Emily Coakley.
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