About Fothergilla latifolia J.F.Mill.
Fothergilla latifolia J.F.Mill., commonly called large witch alder or mountain witch alder, is a flowering plant species belonging to the genus Fothergilla in the family Hamamelidaceae. It is native to woodlands and swamps of the Allegheny Mountains and southern Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States. This deciduous shrub grows up to 2.5 meters (8 feet 2 inches) tall, and produces fragrant white bottlebrush flowers that appear alongside or before its glossy leaves. In autumn, the leaves often turn brilliant shades of red and orange. Fothergilla latifolia grows best in full sun to partial shade, and is resistant to both disease and insect damage. It thrives in moist, acidic soils, and is also fairly drought tolerant. It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8. The genus Fothergilla is named for John Fothergill, an English physician and plant collector who lived from 1712 to 1780. The Latin specific epithet for its synonym major translates to "larger". This species has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
