Large fothergilla | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Witch-hazel
Family (botanic) Hamamelidaceae
Tree or plant type Shrub
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale North America
Size range Small shrub (3-5 feet), Medium shrub (5-8 feet), Large shrub (more than 8 feet)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil, Occasional drought
Season of interest early spring, mid spring, early summer, midsummer, early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, White
Shape or form Mounded, Round
Growth rate Slow

Size & form:

This is a large, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub reaching 6 to 10 feet high and 6 to 8 feet wide.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is found in the Allegheny Mountains from North Carolina and Tennessee to Alabama.

Attracts birds, pollinators, or wildlife:

Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to it.

Bark color and texture:

Bark is gray to light brown and young stems are zig-zag.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Leaves are alternate, simple, 1 to 2 1/2 inches long, ovate to oblong, dark green, and sometimes leathery. Fall color is an excellent mix of red, yellow, and orange.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Flowers are fragrant, 1 to 2 inches long and white, borne on bottle brush-like flower spikes that emerge before the leaves in early spring.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

Its fruit is a small, dried capsule, with no ornamental importance.

Plant care:

This shrub grows best in part shade to full sun with adequate soil moisture. Best flowering occurs in full sun and it prefers slightly acidic soil with plenty of added organic matter. Its shallow roots benefit from a layer of organic mulch to moderate soil temperature and conserve moisture. Water in dry periods. Prune after flowering, if needed.