Fothergilla major
Mountain Witchalder
DESCRIPTION
Mountain WitchalderFothergilla major
Before leaves emerge, Witchalder is covered with white, sweetly scented, bottlebrush flowers on the branch ends of its dense, rounded form. Native butterflies and insects flock to the blooms while birds love the cover of its blue-green foliage. This plant is tremendously disease and insect resistant. It fits well in a woodland garden with azaleas and rhododendrons. To get the best floral and foliage display, give fothergillas as much sunshine as possible. Its yellow, orange and red fall color is superb!
BENEFITS
Dependable and trouble freeFragrant flowers have unique shape
Brilliant fall foliage colors are breathtaking
Early bloom is a crucial spring nectar source
Perfect as a specimen or for grouping
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
The cool uplands of the southern Mid-Atlantic states and southern Midwest, south to Georgia and Alabama
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
Interesting Facts
Only a handful of the 700 species of butterflies that live in North America feed on agriculture crops, the rest rely on native plants like this one for food.
GROWING TIPS