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Fothergilla latifolia

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', 'Blue Shadow'
Tags:
#fragrant#deciduous#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#riparian#fall interest#wetlands#NC native#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#food source fall#food source nectar#food source pollen#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Ark Beauty'
  • 'Blue Shadow'
    Upright, 4 to 6 feet high, slow growing.
'Ark Beauty', 'Blue Shadow'
Tags:
#fragrant#deciduous#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#riparian#fall interest#wetlands#NC native#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#food source fall#food source nectar#food source pollen#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#cpp
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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