About

Mount Airy' is a rounded, deciduous shrub to 1.8m with aromatic, creamy-white bottlebrush flowers in late spring. Blue-green rounded leaves turn vivid shades of red, orange and yellow in autumn.

About the genus

Fothergilla are rounded deciduous shrubs with broadly ovate leaves often colouring well in autumn, and small, catkin-like spikes of white flowers in spring

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, North-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
FragranceFlower

Care notes

CultivationGrow in a humus-rich, moist but well-drained acid soil in sun or partial shade; full sun encourages better flowering and rich autumn tints
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in summer
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility