Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Steve Law

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Show all photos

Buy Fothergilla major

Also Known As

Large Fothergilla
Large Witch-Alder
Witch-Alder

Plant type

shrub

size

H: 5'-10'
W: 5'-10'

planting zones

5a-9b

2 inch wide, 4-6 inch deep tube | $19.95

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

Fewer than 27 at Forestfarm

More Options

Fothergilla major plant details

Fothergilla major is a broadleaf deciduous shrub with blue and green foliage. In spring white flowers emerge. Features glossy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture water. Does well in acidic, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Fothergilla major

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: hamamelidaceae
Foliage: deciduous blue and green
Mature size: 5 FT - 10 FT - wide, 5 FT - 10 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring
Uses: border plant, bottlebrush flowers, clumping, fall color, fragrant, honey-scented, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Fothergilla major

USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture

Soil needs: acidic, rich and well-drained

We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

A somewhat larger shrub than F. gardenii (to 6' rather than 3') with larger (2") spikes of fragrant white flowers and equally brilliant yellow to scarlet fall color ?Excellent foundation plant with an EG background? (Wyman). S-PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

The first time we have had this fine shrub in several years. F. major is a 10-12' shrub with white paint brush flowers in April. All summer the foliage is dark green and is a wonderful backdrop for clematis. In fall, the foliage is stunning yellow orange and red.

By: Gossler Farms

Native to the southeastern U.S. and a member of the Witch Hazel family, it's a slow-growing, deciduous shrub, reach 6-10' in height with an upright, spreading habit. Noted for it's aromatic white flowers in April/May that are bottlebrush-like, 1-3" long and are very fragrant. Dark green leaves, blue-gray beneath turns excellent shades of yellow, orange and red-purple in Fall. Similar to the more common Fotherfilla gardenii but it's taller, has toothed leaf margins AND it produces flowers AFTER its leaves emerge which some folks prefer and SUCKERS less. Great as a hedge or in mass. If you have the room, this is a terrific Native.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Known for its conspicuous brush-like, white flower spikes in spring, this medium sized multi stemmed shrub also gives an especially colorful display of crimson in the fall. It is equal in beauty to the magnificent F. gardenii, only it makes a larger plant, faster. Grows to 6-10' tall. Best suited to partial shade in hotter summer areas, it requires moist, acid soil.

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

(was monticola) SE United States. Large 4" leaves, turning rich red in the fall. Growth to 6'. “Bottle-brush” flower spikes 2 1/2" long, white and fragrant in early spring. Requires lime free soil.

By: The Bovees Nursery

One of the penultimate shrubs for fall color. This has few rivals when it is ablaze in yellows-oranges-reds and that alone would justify a choice place in the garden but when you add the showy white bottlebrush flowers in spring then it's lofty status is unassailable. Half sun is really good.