Fothergilla

Bottlebrush (Fothergilla) Fothergilla (sounds like a dinosaur name) is native to the southeastern United States.  This lovely, well-behaved, flowering shrub is commonly recommended as a substitute for burning bush (Euonymus alatus), a highly invasive plant.  Bottlebrush enjoys sun to part sun and comes in a range of heights, from 2’ to 8’.  In springtime it’s covered with creamy-white, bottlebrush ?owers that emit a delightful honey-like fragrance.  Similar to forsythia and magnolias, the ?owers appear before the leaves flush out.  But the show is not over after the ?owers disappear; an encore happens in fall when the shrub explodes into a brilliant orangey-red-yellow glowing spectacle. Another of this plant’s attributes is its minimal need for pruning.   ‘Blue Shadow’ and ‘Blue Shadow’ (frosty blue leaves, 3’ – 6’), gardenii (green leaves, 2’ – 4’) and ‘Mount Airy’ (green leaves, 4’ – 5’) are all highly acclaimed cultivars.  Bottlebrush is hardy in zones 5 – 8.  IF pruning is required, do so right after blooming.