• Photo of Fothergilla latifolia (Fothergilla latifolias)

Plant Profile: Fothergilla latifolia

Names

Large Fothergilla, Large Witch-alder

  • Photo of Fothergilla latifolia (Fothergilla latifolias)

Phonetic Spelling:foth-er-GIL-lah lat-ee-FOH-lee-uh

Genus:Fothergilla

Species:latifolia

Family:Hamamelidaceae

This shrub showcases vibrant fall colors with its red, orange, and yellow leaves. It grows slowly and features a rounded shape with multiple upright stems. It is adaptable to both dry and wet soil conditions and may produce suckers from time to time. This species is indigenous to the mountainous areas of the southeastern United States and is renowned for its stunning autumn hues.

Wildlife Value: Deer rarely cause damage to this plant.

Play Value: Enhances wildlife habitats.

Seed Type: Capsule.

For comparison, consider Fothergilla gardenii.

Fothergilla latifolia Feature Summary

Fothergilla latifolia Image Gallery

Tags

#fragrant
#deciduous
#drought tolerant
#deciduous shrub
#riparian
#fall interest
#wetlands
#playground
#wet sites
#cpp
#NC native
#children's garden
#food source fall
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#bird friendly
#butterfly friendly

Similar Plants

Fothergilla latifolia Feature Summary

Attributes
Mountanous regions of Southeast US.
Birds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
Drought tolerant. Will tolerate wet soil.
Fragrance
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Fruit
Brown capsule with two curved horn-like projections (styles) displays from July to October.
Brown/Copper
Flowers
1-3 in. bottlebrush-like spike of white apetalous flowers from April to May. The sepals form a small cup and the 12-32 white filaments. (stamens) are in the center. The fragrance varies from none to honey-like
Colored Sepals
1-3 inches
Leaves
Alternate, simple, leathery, blue-green to dark green leaves; with grayish to whitish underside with pubescent veins. 2-4 in. long and almost as wide. Coarsely denticulate on the upper half of the leaf. Red, orange, yellow fall color on each individual leaf.
Green
Gray/Silver
White
Blue
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Denticulate
1-3 inches
Leathery
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Native Plant
Multi-stemmed
Rounded
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)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Recreational Play Area
Butterflies
Songbirds
Bees

Fothergilla latifolia Attributes

Fothergilla latifolia: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mountanous regions of Southeast US.

Fothergilla latifolia: Wildlife Value

Birds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.

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

Drought tolerant. Will tolerate wet soil.

Fothergilla latifolia: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Fothergilla latifolia: 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 latifolia Fruit

Fothergilla latifolia: Fruit Description

Brown capsule with two curved horn-like projections (styles) displays from July to October.

Fothergilla latifolia: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Fothergilla latifolia: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Fothergilla latifolia: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Fothergilla latifolia Flowers

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Description

1-3 in. bottlebrush-like spike of white apetalous flowers from April to May. The sepals form a small cup and the 12-32 white filaments. (stamens) are in the center. The fragrance varies from none to honey-like

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Value To Gardener

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

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Fothergilla latifolia: Flower Size

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

Fothergilla latifolia Leaves

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Description

Alternate, simple, leathery, blue-green to dark green leaves; with grayish to whitish underside with pubescent veins. 2-4 in. long and almost as wide. Coarsely denticulate on the upper half of the leaf. Red, orange, yellow fall color on each individual leaf.

Fothergilla latifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green
spa
White

Fothergilla latifolia: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange
spa
Red/Burgundy

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Type

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

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Fothergilla latifolia: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Length

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

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Fothergilla latifolia: Leaf Width

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

Fothergilla latifolia Whole Plant Traits

Fothergilla latifolia: 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 latifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Fothergilla latifolia: 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 latifolia: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Fothergilla latifolia: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Fothergilla latifolia Cultural Conditions

Fothergilla latifolia: 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 latifolia: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Fothergilla latifolia: Soil Drainage

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

Fothergilla latifolia: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Fothergilla latifolia: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Fothergilla latifolia Stem

Fothergilla latifolia: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Fothergilla latifolia Landscape

Fothergilla latifolia: 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 latifolia: 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 latifolia: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Fothergilla latifolia: Attracts

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