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Fothergilla gardenii Linnaeus. Common name: Pocosin Witch-alder. Phenology: Mar-May; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Wet savannas, pocosins, and margins of pocosins, and pitcherplant bogs. Distribution: Se. NC south to e. GA; reports from w. GA, s. AL, and Panhandle FL are F. milleri and F. parvifolia.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Other Comments: An ornamental prized for its small size and attractive fall color -- though most cultivated material (even so labeled) is not this species but the hybrid F. ×intermedia. A tetraploid species (2n=4x=48) (Ranney et al. 2012).

Synonymy ⓘ: = NS, POWO, Haynes et al (2020); = n/a — C; < Fothergilla gardeni — S, S13, orthographic variant; >< Fothergilla gardeni — F; < Fothergilla gardenii L. — FNA3, GW2, K4, RAB, Weaver (1969). Basionym: Fothergilla gardenii L. 1774

Links to other floras: < Fothergilla gardenii - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alvin Diamond source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jennifer Peterson | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jennifer Peterson | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 3 ft.

plant sale text: Amazing bottlebrush-like short spikes of fragrant white flowers in spring just before the leaves emerge, picture book fall foliage all orangey orange and sunset red (Dirr calls it "one of the great American native shrubs for fall color") This little shrub easy to grow in average garden soil (as long as drainage is provided) and tolerant of a little shade. Not at all bothered by garden diseases. Early bloomer for the early pollinators. Every garden should have three.

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native range: southeastern United States



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