Dwarf Fothergilla

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-5 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Dwarf Fothergilla goes by a few different names, including Fothergilla gardenii and Dwarf Bottlebrush Witchalder, but whatever you call this plant, you will be sure to remember its striking good looks. The unique flowers grow on the ends of the woody branches in the spring before the leaves emerge. Each bloom consists of tiny tubular white flowers that grow in circular rows around the center stem. The blue-green foliage will turn yellow, orange, and red shades during the fall.

The dense form of this upright plant ensures it is a good hedge or foundation planting. The springtime flowers and fall color will make this shrub a focal point in a bed or mass planting. Bees and butterflies flock to the sweet-smelling flowers of this low-maintenance plant. The Dwarf Fothergilla is a perennial in USDA zones 5 through 8.

Dwarf Fothergilla Care

Plant this shrub in full sun to partial shade. Soil should be moist and acidic but well-drained. Water once per week or when the top few inches of soil are dry. Apply a layer of organic compost or a balanced fertilizer in the spring to support new growth.

Remove suckers as they appear to focus all of the energy into the plant. The flowers bloom on the previous year’s growth, so prune the plant after flowering is done.

Dwarf Fothergilla Spacing

Plant Dwarf Fothergilla shrubs 2 to 4 feet apart. This compact, upright perennial will be 3 to 4 feet wide and tall.