Plants and Profits: <i>Fothergilla</i>

Suggest Fothergilla when customers ask for…

• Something with great fall foliage—other than burning bush
• A shrub with showy, fragrant spring flowers
• A plant that will partner well with rhododendrons
• Something to jazz up standard, green foundation plantings
• Plants for a woodland garden

The story
Fothergilla is a beautiful, deciduous, three-season shrub with outstanding fall foliage. Fothergilla major is the large version of the shrub, while Fothergilla gardenii is the dwarf species. In spring, fragrant bottle-brush shaped flowers appear, enhancing this plant’s appeal. F gardenii makes an ideal shrub for foundation plantings; F. major can be a standout specimen in landscapes. Either plant is a good choice for customers looking for an alternative to Euonymous alatus (burning bush) for eye-catching fall color. Fothergilla is native to the Southeast and thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8.

Display and marketing possibilities

• Plant an outstanding and showy Fothergilla specimen as a “milestone plant” commemorating a child’s birth.
• Make sure signs and tags include photos showing the plant’s outstanding fall colors.
• Use fall foliage in a craft project for kids during an autumn festival.
• Cross-merchandise with rhododendrons or azaleas, which have similar soil requirements.
• Create a “Bountiful Blue” display. Group Fothergilla in a display with blue-hued perennials and annuals.
• In the Southeast, include Fothergilla in your native plant displays.