Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
[fah-ther-GILL-ah gar-DEN-ee-eye]

Deciduous Perennial Rounded, Spreading in the Hamamelidaceae Family
A compact native shrub with honey-scented spring flowers and some of the best multicolor fall foliage of any small shrub.

Fothergilla gardenii, or dwarf fothergilla, is a compact native shrub prized for multi-season interest. In early spring, before the leaves emerge, it produces fragrant, honey-scented white bottlebrush flowers. Rounded green leaves follow through summer, then turn a vibrant mix of yellow, orange, and red in fall -- often the best color show of any native shrub this size. Staying compact at 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, with a tendency to spread by root suckers into a dense colony over time, it suits borders, foundation plantings, and native gardens equally well.

Pros

  • Outstanding, reliable multicolor fall foliage (yellow, orange, and red)
  • Fragrant, honey-scented spring flowers
  • Compact size fits small spaces and foundation plantings
  • Native, low-maintenance, and deer resistant

Cons

  • Needs consistently moist, acidic soil -- struggles in alkaline or dry sites
  • Can spread by root suckers into a colony if not managed
  • Can develop leaf spot in hot, humid, wet conditions
Why Like

A true native of the southeastern US coastal plain, dwarf fothergilla offers two distinct seasons of interest from a genuinely wild-origin plant: fragrant white bottlebrush flowers in spring and a vivid, variable mix of yellow, orange, and red foliage each fall.
Highlights

A compact native shrub that punches well above its size -- fragrant spring flowers followed by some of the best multicolor fall foliage around.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall Color, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Showy Flowers, Shrub, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period April To May (First Bloom: 265 GDD, Full Bloom: 325 GDD)
Flower Color White
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs naturally with rhododendrons and azaleas, which share the same acidic, well-drained soil preference, or with other native woodland-edge plants.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/08
2023 : 05/04 - 09/10


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!