• Photo of Fothergilla gardenii (Fothergilla gardeniis)

Plant Profile: Fothergilla gardenii

Taxonomy: Fothergilla gardenii

Names

Coastal Witch-alder, Dwarf Fothergilla

  • Photo of Fothergilla gardenii (Fothergilla gardeniis)

Phonetic Spelling:foth-er-GIL-lah gar-DEN-ee-eye

Genus:Fothergilla

Species:gardenii

Family:Hamamelidaceae

This charming, compact deciduous shrub features a stunning display of orange to scarlet leaves in the fall. It produces fragrant white flowers from April to May, adding to its appeal. With an upright growth habit and spreading branches, this plant showcases vibrant foliage in shades of red, orange, and gold during autumn. The blossoms emit a sweet, honey-like fragrance. It is drought-resistant and can thrive in both wet soils and compacted areas; it may also produce suckers, leading to the formation of a colony. This species is native to the coastal plains of the southern United States, often found in wet savannas, pocosins, baygalls, and bogs. It serves well as a standout specimen or can be planted in groups to create an informal small hedge.

Seasons of Interest

       Foliage: Fall, orange-scarlet  Bloom: Spring, April-May

Wildlife Value:  This plant is rarely affected by deer.

Play Value:  Enhances wildlife habitats.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant issues with insects or diseases.

Compare this Plant to: Fothergilla major

 

Fothergilla gardenii Feature Summary

Fothergilla gardenii Image Gallery

Tags

#fall color
#drought tolerant
#specimen
#native shrub
#tsc
#fall interest
#mass planting
#playground
#hedges
#wet sites
#cpp
#NC native
#children's garden
#pollinator plant
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#Coastal FACW
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#compact habit
#bird friendly
#tsc-s
#bee friendly
#audubon

Similar Plants

Fothergilla gardenii Feature Summary

Attributes
coastal plains o souther US.
Drought tolerant. Will tolerate wet soil.
Wildlife Food Source
Fruit
Fruit is an ornamentally insignificant, two-seeded, beaked capsule that matures in fall (September to October).
Flowers
Male flowers only are showy 1-2 in. creamy white flowers in spring with a sweet honey fragrance; April through May, flowers appear before leaves. Flowers smell like honey.
1-3 inches
Leaves
Alternate, simple, leathery blue-green to dark green leaves; 1-2.5 in. long; orange, yellow to scarlet fall color.
Green
Blue
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Native Plant
Rounded
Spreading
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Occasional Flooding
Coastal
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Native Garden
Hedge
Specimen
Wet Soil
Compaction
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees

Fothergilla gardenii Attributes

Fothergilla gardenii: Country Or Region Of Origin

coastal plains o souther US.

Fothergilla gardenii: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Drought tolerant. Will tolerate wet soil.

Fothergilla gardenii: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Fothergilla gardenii Fruit

Fothergilla gardenii: Fruit Description

Fruit is an ornamentally insignificant, two-seeded, beaked capsule that matures in fall (September to October).

Fothergilla gardenii: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Fothergilla gardenii Flowers

Fothergilla gardenii: Flower Description

Male flowers only are showy 1-2 in. creamy white flowers in spring with a sweet honey fragrance; April through May, flowers appear before leaves. Flowers smell like honey.

Fothergilla gardenii: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Fothergilla gardenii: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Fothergilla gardenii: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Fothergilla gardenii: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Fothergilla gardenii Leaves

Fothergilla gardenii: Leaf Description

Alternate, simple, leathery blue-green to dark green leaves; 1-2.5 in. long; orange, yellow to scarlet fall color.

Fothergilla gardenii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Fothergilla gardenii: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green

Fothergilla gardenii: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange
spa
Red/Burgundy

Fothergilla gardenii: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Fothergilla gardenii: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Fothergilla gardenii: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Fothergilla gardenii: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Fothergilla gardenii: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Fothergilla gardenii Whole Plant Traits

Fothergilla gardenii: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Fothergilla gardenii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Fothergilla gardenii: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Fothergilla gardenii: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Fothergilla gardenii Cultural Conditions

Fothergilla gardenii: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Fothergilla gardenii: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Fothergilla gardenii: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Fothergilla gardenii: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Fothergilla gardenii Stem

Fothergilla gardenii: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Fothergilla gardenii Landscape

Fothergilla gardenii: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Fothergilla gardenii: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Fothergilla gardenii: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Fothergilla gardenii: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees