This cultivated variety of Fothergilla is a hybrid of Fothergilla gardenii—dwarf
witch fothergilla, and Fothergilla major—large fothergilla.
It is not found in the wild. Fothergilla is for John Fothergill, a physician and gardener.
Gardenii doesn't mean "looks good in a garden"—it recognizes Dr. Alexander Garden,
a contemporary of Fothergill's. This variety was discovered at the Mt. Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati, OH,
by Michael Dirr.
Identification: This deciduous shrub is 4-6′ (1.2-1.8 m) tall. It
produces numerous white flowerheads resembling bottle-brushes. Each flower spike is 1-3″ (2.5-7.6 cm) long and
1-1½″ (2.5-3.8 cm) in diameter. The brushlike filaments are white flower stamens and pale yellow anthers; there
are no petals. The flowers smell a bit like honey. Leaves are alternate, 2-5″ (5-12 cm) long, glossy, dark green,
with prominent veins. They become brilliant red, orange, yellow, and purple in the fall. Fruits are inconspicuous green
capsules.