Shrubs
Fothergilla × intermedia 'Mount Airy'
Mount Airy fothergilla
White, honey-scented bottlebrush flowers open before leathery blue-green leaves in spring. Autumn brings a mixture of yellow, orange, red and purple. Discovered at Cincinnati’s Mt. Airy Arboretum, this rounded shrub provides several seasons of interest in an acidic border.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Mature size
- 3–6 ft. tall × 3–5 ft. wide
- Water
- Consistently moist, well-drained acidic soil
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5–9
Sizes & prices
- #3Large Fothergilla$49.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Native range
- Native range / parentage
- Hybrid of eastern U.S. native Fothergilla species.
Seasonal interest
- Foliage
- Deciduous.
Growing & care
- Pruning
- Usually little needed; lightly shape after flowering.
Sources & photo credits
University of Maryland Extension
Photo: Randy Harter · CC BY 4.0
Image notes: Mount Airy fothergilla. Representative plant; resized and re-encoded, not cropped.
Reviewed September 21, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.