Fothergilla major | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Hamamelidaceae |
Genus: | Fothergilla |
Species: | F. major
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Binomial name | |
Fothergilla major Lodd.
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Synonyms[2] | |
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Fothergilla major, the large witch alder or mountain witch alder, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Fothergilla, family Hamamelidaceae, that is native to woodland and swamps in the Allegheny Mountains and southern Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States.[3] It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) with fragrant white bottlebrush flowers appearing along with, or before, the glossy leaves. The leaves often turn brilliant shades of red and orange in autumn.[4]
Fothergilla major prefers full sun to part shade and is disease and insect resistant.[5] It thrives in moist, acidic soils, but is fairly drought tolerant.[3] It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4–8.[6]
This plant is named for the English physician and plant collector John Fothergill (1712-1780). The Latin specific epithet major means "larger".[7] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8][9]