Fothergilla
Fothergilla major
Also called Witch alder and Mountain witch alder
Garden plant · ShrubsTwo seasons and both good: white bottlebrushes on bare twigs in April, honey-scented, and then the best autumn colour of any shrub its size — orange, red and yellow on one bush. Acid soil, or it sulks.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 5 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, in acid soil
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 2 m tall · 2 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- The Appalachian mountains
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.