Large Witch-alder Fothergilla latifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Fothergilla major
- Phonetic Spelling
- foth-er-GIL-lah lat-ee-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
-
Large Fothergilla is a rounded, multistemmed, deciduous shrub with erect stems and noted for its fall foliage. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and wide and display a fall color that ranges from yellow to orange to scarlet. The flowers, which do not have petals, have a bottle-brush look, 3 inches long, with a slight honey fragrance and tend to appear with the foliage and last for several weeks. It is a slow growing plant. In contrast to the smaller Dwarf Fothergilla, Large Fothergilla matures to a height of 12 feet and a width of 10 feet. Large Fothergilla is native to the mountainous regions of the Southeastern United States.
Large Fothergilla does best in full sun or part shade in average, medium moist, well-drained soil, although it is adaptable to various soil types. It prefers acidic, well-drained, moist, soil, with adequate organic matter. It is drought tolerant and seldom damaged by deer. It may spread by root suckers to form colonies if suckers are not promptly removed.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Ark Beauty'
- 'Blue Shadow'
Upright, 4 to 6 feet high, slow growing.
- 'Ark Beauty'
- 'Ark Beauty', 'Blue Shadow'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Ark Beauty'
- 'Blue Shadow'
Upright, 4 to 6 feet high, slow growing.
- 'Ark Beauty'
- 'Ark Beauty', 'Blue Shadow'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fothergilla
- Species:
- latifolia
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mountanous regions of Southeast US.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant. Will tolerate wet soil.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Brown capsule with two curved horn-like projections (styles) displays from July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1 to 3 inch bottlebrush-like spike of white apetalous flowers from April to May. The sepals form a small cup and the 12 to 32 white filaments. (stamens) are in the center. The fragrance varies from none to honey-like.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, leathery, blue-green to dark green leaves; with grayish to whitish underside with pubescent veins. 2 to 4 inches long and almost as wide. Coarsely denticulate on the upper half of the leaf. Red, orange, yellow fall color on each individual leaf.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
