Some plants are nearly perfect and fothergilla is one of them. I’ve grown two Fothergilla gardenii – ‘Blue Mist’ and the species.
The first one was ‘Blue Mist’, a dwarf type with blue leaves and spectacular fall color. The plant came from a mail-order nursery. It was in the 2- to 3-feet tall and wide range, with the typical bottlebrush-like white flowers.
I don’t remember exactly what happened to the plant except I don’t have it any more. Instead, I went with the Fothergilla gardenii species, which does not disappoint.
At about 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, it has more size to it, but the small shrub is well formed and full of leaves. I grow mine in full sun, but Fothergilla tolerates shadier spots.
The leaves are green with an ever-so-slight cast of blue and the flowers are said to be honey-scenter, but I’ve not noticed that. Really, though, the reason to have this low-maintenance, native shrub is because of its form and color. It works well in a shrub border as an anchor or specimen plant mixed with perennials.
