The Fragrant Shrub With Fluffy White Flowers That'll Elevate Your Spring Garden

Are you looking for something truly special to elevate your spring garden? What if this outstanding plant also had fluffy white, sweet-scented flowers and was low-maintenance? Well, you're in luck. Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia), also commonly known as coastal witch-alder, will have you squealing with delight when you first spot those genuinely unique and adorable blooms. Better yet, this stunning species is native to the southeastern U.S. and can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8. You'll also be pleased to know that Fothergilla is one of those low-maintenance companion plants that grow well with wild ginger. 

While the bottle-brush blooms with their pure white stamens are quite spectacular, this plant will encourage you to appreciate it even more when the foliage turns to brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange in the fall. Fothergilla is definitely a plant that has a lot to offer and deserves a place in your garden. The honey-scented flowers appear in spring, even before the leathery leaves have had time to grow. The latter follow closely behind, and even these are quite attractive in their blue-green hue with slightly serrated margins. Plus, those pretty blooms will attract lots of pollinators to your yard in spring. This shrub has many uses in the garden, and its colorful flowers are perfect for spring border gardens if you plant it as a backdrop for lower-growing bulbs or annuals. It could also be used as an informal hedge when planted en masse alongside a pathway or in front of a fence.

To grow this gorgeous plant in your garden, choose a sunny spot that has moist, well-drained soil. Although it will also be happy in dappled shade, you'll get a more vibrant display of blooms and fall leaf color if it's grown in full sun. However, in hot regions, it's best to provide a little afternoon shade for your plant to thrive. The soil should be slightly acidic and filled with organic matter. As this deciduous shrub will reach a height of up to 6 feet with a similar spread, make sure you give it plenty of space to grow.

Be aware that suckers will grow from the base, so it's best to remove these when you notice them. This will ensure your Fothergilla doesn't spread to other areas of the yard. The plant is also drought-tolerant when well-established, so it doesn't need all that much special care. If you want to encourage faster growth, apply a fertilizer that's formulated for acid-loving plants, such as Azaleas, twice in spring. A layer of mulch around the base of the plant is recommended to help retain moisture in the soil. As this is an early-blooming shrub, you'll want to know when to prune it for the healthiest blooms. Fothergilla only needs light pruning to remove any damaged branches, and this should be done immediately after the shrub has finished flowering. Finally, while deer will often be drawn to the blooms, once these finish, they'll typically leave the rest of the plant alone.