gardenii - Dwarf Fothergilla () ------ is a moisture-loving, acid soil- May as the start to emerge and very showy, requiring compact small with multi-season effective for 1-2 weeks interests. Dwarf Fothergilla displays showy white- Fruits green in mid-spring and vibrant late autumn -small olive-brown capsules, noticeable but not foliage. It is often utilized as a specimen, group showy planting, or facer shrub. Twigs -light tan and zigzag, becoming gray on branches FEATURES -lightly pubescent twigs are terminated by very Form pubescent buds, most of which are ovoid floral buds Trunk -not applicable

USAGE Function -foundation, facer, mass planting, seasonal interest, or specimen shrub -good in combination with Azaleas and Rhododendrons Texture -medium texture in foliage and when bare -small shrub -thick density in foliage and when bare -maturing slowly at 3' tall x 3' wide Assets -upright rounded growth habit, becoming globular -showy white apetalous (no petals) flowers with age -brilliant mixture of autumn colors -slow growth rate -compact form Culture -wet site tolerant -full sun to full shade Liabilities -needs moist, rich, well-drained, acid soil that is -slow growth irrigated during dry periods of summer for best -not drought tolerant performance Habitat -propagated primarily by rooted stem cuttings -Zones 5 to 8 -few disease or pest problems, but very subject to -Native to Southeastern U.S. decline and death under alkaline soil and drought stress conditions SELECTIONS -moderately available in container form Alternates -tolerant of wet sites, but not tolerant of dry -companion for shady spots (Buxus, Kalmia, conditions, partially due to the shallow root system Leucothoe, Pieris, Rhododendron [including Foliage Azaleas], etc.) - most of these require moist, well- -medium to dark green drained, acidic soils (occasionally blue-green) and – Variants – Related resembling a Witchhazel -F. gardenii 'Blue Mist' - foliage is a distinctive blue- -alternate, broadly obovate, green, with best summer foliage color achieved in with crenate margins on the upper half partial to full shade, but overall vigor and autumn -veins impressed (sunken), with the short petiole color is inferior to the species somewhat fuzzy -F. gardenii 'Mt. Airy' ('Mount Airy') - more -autumn color a vibrant mixture vigorous and upright in growth habit (to 4' x 3') but of yellow-orange-pink-scarlet on also more leggy and suckering than the species form, the same at the same time with more abundant flowers and even better autumn -coloring in Oct. to early Nov. and color than the species form, becoming more common often showy, especially when in the nursery trade placed in full to partial sun - Large Fothergilla Flowers Also a native shrub for the residential or commercial -white, apetalous (no petals), with landscape. Similar in form to F. gardenii, but larger, the showy portions being the with the same flowers and great autumn foliage white filaments (to 1" long each) that expand from the emerging light green oval inflorescences -appearing in late Apr. or early