How to Grow Fothergilla gardenii Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Dwarf Fothergilla

The Fothergilla gardenii plant is a slow growing shrub. There are two members in the genus, the other being Fothergilla major. The Alabama witch alder (Fothergilla monticola) is usually classified into the major genus.

These ornamental plants are usually grown both for their attractive spring flowers and their colorful autumn leaves.

Dwarf fothergilla

Fothergilla photograph by Lynn.

Plants typically reach about three feet (90 cm) in height.

They carry small fragrant flowers on terminal spikes in the spring, and their dark green leaves turn a lovely color in the autumn, ranging from yellow through to bright red.

Quick Growing and Care Guide

Scientific Name: Fothergilla gardenii
Common Name (s): Dwarf fothergilla, Witch Alder, American wych hazel, Dwarf witchalder
Growing Zone (USA / UK Hardiness): 5 to 8 / H5

Plant Details

Life Cycle / Plant Type: Deciduous shrub. Compact and slow growing.
Plant Height: 18 to 36 inches (45 to 90 cm)
Plant Spread: 24 to 48 inches (60 to 1.2 m)
Blooms: Mid to late spring
Flower Details: White. Fragrant. Showy. Catkin-like inflorescent spikes to 1.5 inches (4 cm).
Leaf Foliages: Broadly Ovate. Dark green leaves appear once flowering has completed. These turn yellow, orange, and crimson red in the fall.

Growing Conditions

Best Light Conditions: Full sun (best results) and partial shade / afternoon shade in hot areas
Suitable Soil Types: Sandy loams. Well drained, does not like heavy soils.
Suitable Soil pH: Acidic soils
Soil Soil Moisture: Medium
Sowing, planting, and Propagation: Can spread from root suckers. grow from softwood cuttings in the summer.
Care: Lightly prune to remove damaged and diseased tissue; once pruned provide a mulch and a light feed.

Further Information

Best Garden Use: Fall color, massed, flower borders, woodland, cottage garden.
Family: Hamamelidaceae.
Closely Related Species: Witch hazel.
Miscellaneous: USA native plant. Two seeded fruit.
Further Reading and References used: Wikipedia; MBG

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Fothergilla plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ shrub growing guides: How to grow Pieris japonica and Amelanchier alnifolia plants.