Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Fothergilla major 'Mount Airy', commonly known as Mount Airy Fothergilla, is a unique dwarf shrub with outstanding fall color. The showy white bottlebrush flowers emerge in spring and smell like honey. After flowering, attractive leathery, blue-green foliage follows. The leaves turn a mixture of red, orange, yellow and purple hues in the fall. This shrub is truly a sight to behold.
Mount Airy is an upright multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded habit. It stays small and compact, maxing out at 5 – 6 feet high. This shrub is cold hardy to zone 4 and resistant to deer. It is easy to grow and versatile, adding interest and color to mixed shrub borders, foundation plantings, woodland gardens, and low flowering screens.
Mount Airy Fothergilla Care
This shrub blooms best in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, but tolerates partial shade. It prefers moderately moist soil, rich in organic matter. The soil should also drain well and be on the acidic side. Topdress the roots with compost, making sure to pull away any mulch from the trunk.
Mount Airy does not require much pruning. It blooms on old wood, so prune lightly after flowering. It spreads by suckers, which can be removed with pruners or dug up and transplanted to another location.
Mount Airy Fothergilla Spacing
For planting a tight screen, space these shrubs approximately 3 feet apart, center on center. For accent planting, give these shrubs at least 4 feet around to reach their maximal spread.
Mount Airy Fothergilla Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 5-6 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Mount Airy Fothergilla
- Botanical Name
- FOTHERGILLA MAJOR 'MT. AIRY'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!