

Fothergilla comes in a variety of sizes, from the tallest cultivars growing to 12 feet to compact varieties of the spring-flowering shrub; hybrids labeled Fothergilla x intermedia combine the best characteristics of both.
Fothergillas are deciduous shrubs valuable for both their springtime displays of white powderpuff flowers and in autumn for fiery red leaves.
From compact cultivars such as the low-growing F. gardenii ‘Harold Epstein’ to F. major (which at a height of up to 12 feet can be an alternative to a tree in a small garden), fothergilla thrives in well-drained, rich soil (add organic matter in autumn).
For more shrubs that bloom dramatically in spring on bare wood, see our guides to Forsythia, Witch Hazel, and Paperbush.