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Mount Airy Fothergilla
Mount Airy Fothergilla
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Fothergilla × intermedia 'Mount Airy'
Mount Airy Fothergilla
The Mount Airy Fothergilla is a compact, ornamental native shrub celebrated for its fragrant white bottlebrush blooms, brilliant fall color, and easy-going nature. Bred for enhanced vigor and color, this cultivar thrives in a variety of garden settings while supporting early-season pollinators.
With its dense, mounded shape and stunning multi-season interest, Mount Airy is a landscape gem perfect for small gardens, borders, and native plantings.
Mount Airy Fothergilla Overview
Attribute |
Details |
🌿 Botanical Name |
Fothergilla × intermedia 'Mount Airy' |
🏷️ Common Names |
Mount Airy Fothergilla, Hybrid Fothergilla |
🌳 Mature Height |
3–5 feet |
🌐 Mature Width |
3–5 feet |
📈 Growth Rate |
Moderate |
⏳ Lifespan |
30–50+ years |
🧊 USDA Zones |
4–8 |
❄️ Chill Hours |
400–800 hours |
☀️ Sun Preference |
Full sun to partial shade |
🧱 Soil Type |
Moist, well-drained acidic soil; tolerates clay |
⚖️ Soil pH |
Acidic (5.0–6.5) |
💧 Water Needs |
Moderate; prefers consistent moisture |
🌸 Flower Color |
White bottlebrush blooms; early to mid-spring |
🍒 Fruit Type |
Inconspicuous seed capsules |
🐝 Pollinators |
Attracts bees and beneficial insects |
🌿 Growth Habit |
Compact, mounded, suckering form |
↔️ Spacing |
3–5 ft apart for groupings or borders |
🏡 Landscape Uses |
Woodland gardens, native borders, pollinator beds |
🧹 Maintenance Level |
Low |
Environmental Benefits
🌸 Provides critical early-season nectar for bees
🌿 Adds structural diversity to native and woodland gardens
🐝 Attracts pollinators while requiring no chemical sprays
🍁 Enhances habitat value with vibrant autumn foliage
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros |
⚠️ Cons |
🌸 Fragrant spring blooms support early pollinators |
💧 May struggle in alkaline or poorly drained soils |
🍁 Brilliant red, orange, and yellow fall foliage |
🌱 Slow to establish if planted too deep or dry |
🧬 Hybrid vigor with improved performance and color |
🐌 Can be outcompeted by aggressive neighboring plants |
🏡 Ideal for small spaces and native gardens |
☀️ Best fall color in full sun exposure |
🐝 Deer-resistant and low-maintenance |
✂️ Occasional suckering may require control |
Planting & Care Guide
🛁 Water well at planting and continue weekly until established
🕳️ Plant in a hole twice as wide as the root ball, at original depth
🌾 Mulch with pine bark or shredded leaves to preserve moisture and acidity
💦 Maintain consistent watering through dry periods, especially in summer
✂️ Prune only to shape or remove dead wood after flowering
🧪 Avoid lime or high-pH fertilizers; use acidic amendments if needed
The Mount Airy Fothergilla is a show-stopping native shrub that checks all the boxes—fragrant spring blooms, stunning fall color, and dependable low-maintenance performance. A perfect fit for pollinator pathways, small gardens, or woodland edges, it’s a compact powerhouse that delivers season after season.
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