| Fothergilla gardenii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Hamamelidaceae |
| Genus: | Fothergilla |
| Species: | F. gardenii |
| Binomial name | |
| Fothergilla gardenii L. | |
Fothergilla gardenii, also known by the common names witch alder, dwarf fothergilla, American wych hazel, and dwarf witchalder is a deciduous shrub in the Hamamelidaceae family. It is one of two species in the genus Fothergilla.
Description
- Type: Slow-growing deciduous shrub.
- Height/spread: Max height and spread is 0.9 m (3 ft) to 1 m (3 ft).
- Leaves: Dark green, alternate leaves emerge in spring and range in shape from oval to obovate. Sizes up to 6 cm (2.5 in) in length, with irregularly toothed margins. Striking autumn colors, including bright red, crimson, orange, and yellow.
- Inflorescences: Terminal cylindrical spikes to 4 cm (1.5 in) are borne in spring, before the leaves emerge.
- Flowers: Small, white, petal-less, highly fragrant. Conspicuous filaments are 2.5 cm (1 in) long.
Distribution
Native to the southeastern USA, from North Carolina to Alabama.
Cultivation
- Hardiness: Fully hardy, to -29 °C (-20 °F). USDA zones 5-9.
- Cultivation: Prefers full sun or partial shade and humus-rich, well-drained soil which is kept moist. Full sun gives the best autumn color. Does well in woodland gardens or shrub borders.
- Propagation:
- Seed Sow seed outdoors in a cold frame or seedbed in autumn or winter. Seed typically germinates the second spring after sowing. Fresh seed works best.
- Cuttings Take softwood cuttings in summer and root them in a mist unit.
- Layering:
- Air Layering Air layer in summer.
- Simple Layering Can be propagated by layering.
- Pests and Diseases: Trouble free.
Cultivars
The cultivar 'Blue Mist' is grown for its glaucous blue-green foliage.
Etymology
Fothergilla is named for Dr. John Fothergill (1712-1780) of Stratford, Essex, a physician and introducer of American plants.
Gardenii is named for Dr. Alexander Garden (1730-1791), an Anglo-American botanist and correspondent with Carl Linnaeus.
References
- ^ Brickell, Christopher "The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z of Garden Plants (Volume 1: A-J)", 3rd ed. Copyright 1996, 2003, 2008 Dorling Kindersley Ltd., London. ISBN 9781405332965 pp. 452-453
- ^ Hogan, Sean, chief consultant. 2003, 2004. "Flora A Gardener's Encyclopedia", Global Nook Publishing Pty Ltd, Timber Press. ISBN 0881925381. pp. 608
- ^ Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 169, 175
- Thomas G. Ranney and Nathan P. Lynch, Clarifying Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Fothergilla (Hamamelidaceae) Cultivars and Hybrids, HORTSCIENCE 42(3):470–473. 2007.
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Fothergilla gardenii |
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