Home » Gardening Information » Wildflower Gardening
Fothergillas—Super Shrubs for Sun or Shade
Plants & Gardens News Volume 13, Number 2 | Summer 1998
by Paul Cappiello
By way of introduction to the fothergillas, I'd like to tell you about a stroll I took at Bernheim Arboretum last fall with a contingent of woodies wizards. The group was cruising along in typical fashion, individuals and pairs shooting off in every direction in search of the next great introduction, or another precious kernel of plant knowledge.
Things were progressing that way for the entire afternoon until we hit the Fothergilla collection. There before us glowed a Crayola-box display of red, burgundy, and yellow, and some brilliant orange thrown in for good measure. The fall color array literally sucked the entire group back together, and we all stood there paying homage to the unanimously acknowledged winner at the Arboretum that day.
As this anecdote illustrates, Fothergilla are, at their most dazzling, plants capable of commanding the attention of even the most horticulturally jaded. Year-round beauties, these versatile shrubs deserve a place on the list of remarkable plants, super plants, plants everyone should be growing, using, and enjoying. And they're finally, I'm happy to say, beginning to get some well-deserved recognition.
Here's the lowdown on one of my favorite shrubs.
Dynamic Duo
The genus Fothergilla is represented by two species, F. gardenii and F. major (the latter now includes those formerly listed as F. monticola).
F. gardenii is the smaller of the two species, typically topping out at less than 3 feet tall, and is wonderfully showy even when not in bloom. The 1- to 2-inch-long terminal spikes of white stamens are reminiscent of small bottle brushes, and emit a fabulous sweet scent for up to two weeks in late April or May. Leaves are somewhat witch hazel-like, with large, rounded, irregular toothing above the midsection. They remain dark green and remarkably clean all summer long, with only occasional insect-chewing damage.
In autumn, Fothergilla leaves put on a show rivaled by few shrubs. Colors range from yellow through orange, and many wander into bright reds and rich maroon. In full sun, the colors are fantastic, while in shade they are somewhat subdued. Of course, not all plants are standouts in the fall color arena. There is considerable variation (see sidebar).
Both species are native to the Southeast, ranging from the Carolinas to north Florida, and westward nearly to the Mississippi River basin. Generally, F. gardenii is found in low-lying areas and prefers more moist conditions than its larger cousin. The two species are shade-tolerant, but characteristics for both are far superior when plants are grown in full sun. As for soil conditions, the fothergillas absolutely require moist, acidic soils. The jury is still out on the requirement for good drainage. While the plants (especially F. gardenii) are found in low-lying areas, they seem to perform much better in the landscape when given adequate drainage. It may be one of those situations where a plant in the wild seems to be thriving in the middle of a boggy situation, but close inspection reveals the roots to be growing mostly in the raised hummocky mounds, out of the standing water.
Fothergilla major is essentially a larger relative of F. gardenii. Plants will grow to 8 to 10 feet tall, and at least that in spread. Flower spikes tend to be larger, and the plant is not nearly as densely branched. Leaves average about 50 percent larger than those of F. gardenii, and the toothing on the tip of the leaves tends to be more pronounced in F. major. Another major difference between the two species is that F. gardenii is a moderately suckering plant that can, with time, form small spreading colonies, while this is not true of F. major.
Propagation of both fothergillas is very easily accomplished by rooting stem cuttings. Cuttings may be rooted at any time from June through early September, depending on the season and location. If the cuttings have stopped growing during the rooting process, overwinter the rooted cuttings in the rooting container through the dormant season, and pot the following spring after growth resumes.
The Perfect Plant?
Seed propagation is a bit trickier. But while propagation by seed requires patience, it's well worth the effort for those up to the challenge. The variation in seedlings can be tremendous, offering the possibility for many undiscovered treasures. Certainly the selections in the accompanying sidebar just begin to scratch the surface of the enormous potential in the genus Fothergilla. While at the University of Maine in Orono, I occasionally assembled the resident plant zealots for an around-the-lunch-table session of "design the perfect plant." Invariably, pink-flowered Fothergilla was somewhere at the top of the list. Is it possible? Maybe you'll be the one to find out!
Fothergillas in Person
At Brooklyn Botanic Garden you can see Fothergilla in all its seasonal splendor in several locations, including the Fragrance Garden, the witch hazel area, and the Mixed Perennial Border.
This article was adapted, with permission, from Nursery Management & Production magazine.
A self-described "academic egghead," Paul Cappiello is the horticulture director of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky. Paul is in his element at Bernheim, where he is putting his 20 years of experience in plant research and propagation to work expanding the Arboretum's ornamental woody collection, including the othergilla.