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Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’

Fothergilla

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassHamamelidaeWind-pollinated shrubs
OrderHamamelidalesWitch hazels and related plants
FamilyHamamelidaceaeWitch-hazels
GenusFothergillaFor English physician John Fothergill
Speciesmajor“Larger, greater”
Cultivar‘Mt. Airy’

About plant names...

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.

Online References:

in Paghat's Garden

Floridata.com

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Plantdatabase.uconn.edu (Fothergilla major)

Fothergilla major (fothergilla)

Autumn foliage. · 11/6/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Fothergilla major (fothergilla)

Autumn foliage. · 11/6/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Fothergilla major (fothergilla)

5/30/2014 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

 

Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’ description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Fothergilla major (fothergilla)

5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Fothergilla major (fothergilla)

6/8/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)

Fothergilla major (fothergilla)

5/14/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 2 × 3′ (65 × 98 cm)

Fothergilla major (fothergilla)

5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Range: Zones 5-8:

About this map...