Fothergilla major | |
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Scientific classification
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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]
Fothergilla major | |
---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Hamamelidaceae |
Genus: | Fothergilla |
Species: | F. major
|
Binomial name | |
Fothergilla major Lodd.
| |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
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]