Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’

Fothergilla

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

The University of Connecticut Plant Database (Fothergilla major)

Botgarden.uga.edu

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

Autumn foliage. · 11/6/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)

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.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

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

7/29/2023 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/14/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 23 × 27" (57 × 68 cm)

5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 7" (24 × 16 cm)

Range: Zones 5-8:

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