Mt. Airy Fothergilla features showy spikes of fragrant white flowers rising above the foliage in mid spring before the leaves. It has bluish-green deciduous foliage. The round leaves turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall.
Landscape Attributes
Mt. Airy Fothergilla is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Suckering
Mt. Airy Fothergilla is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Hedges/Screening
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Mt. Airy Fothergilla will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.
Details
Botanical Name
Fothergilla x intermedia 'Mt. Airy'
Common Name
Mt. Airy Fothergilla
Hardiness Zone
- 6a
Appearance
Max Height
6 feet
Max Spread
5 feet
Plant Form
Foliage Colour
- Bluish Green
Fall Colour
- Scarlet
Flower Colour
- White
Edible
Edible Component
Edible Harvest Period
Edible Use
Fruit Colour
Growing
Flowering Period
Mid Spring
Moisture
Evenly Moist
Sunlight
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Maintenance
Occasional
Deer Resistance
Get more information about this plant and others with our comprehensive plant finder tool.