View source for Fothergilla

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Hamemelidaceae
|genus=Fothergilla
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Fothergilla gardenii.jpg
|image_width=200
}}
'''''Fothergilla''''' ('''fothergilla''' or '''witchalder''') is a [[genus]] of two or three species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Hamamelidaceae]], native to the southeastern [[United States]].

They are [[deciduous]] [[shrub]]s growing to 1–3 m tall with downy twigs. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, broad ovoid, 4–10&nbsp;cm long and 3–8&nbsp;cm broad, with a coarsely toothed margin; they are noted for their brilliant orange or red fall colors. The [[flower]]s are produced in spring on terminal spikes; they do not have any petals, but have a conspicuous cluster of white stamens 2–3&nbsp;cm long.

{{Inc|
Fothergilla (after John Fothergill, eminent English physician, who introduced and cultivated many new plants, 1712-1780). Hamameliddaceae. Dwarf Alder. Shrubs, chiefly grown for their showy spikes of white flowers and also for the handsome foliage.

Deciduous, more or less stellate-pubescent: lvs. alternate, short-petioled, coarsely toothed, stipulate: fls. in terminal spikes, perfect, apetalous; calyx campanulate, 5-7-lobed; stamens numerous, with the filaments thickened toward the end: caps, dehiscent, 2-celled and 2-seeded.—Four species in the. southern Atlantic states.

These are hardy ornamental shrubs with simple, dull green leaves, and showy spikes of white flowers in spring with the leaves: the distinct foliage resembles somewhat that of the alder, or more that of Hamamelis, and turns yellow late in fall. They grow best in moist, peaty or sandy soil. Propagation is by seeds, not germinating until the second year, or by layers, which take two years to root; the first species also by suckers and root-cuttings.

F. parviflora, Kearney. Closely related to F. gardenii. Lower and stoloniferous: lvs. nearly orbicular, rounded or cordate at the base, toothed from below the middle. N. C. to Fla.
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==Cultivation==
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===Propagation===
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Species==
;Species
*''[[Fothergilla gardenii]]'' Dwarf Fothergilla or Dwarf Witchalder
*''[[Fothergilla major]]'' Large Fothergilla or Large Witchalder
*''[[Fothergilla monticola]]'' Alabama Fothergilla or Alabama Witchalder; commonly included in ''F. major''

==Gallery==
{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->

<gallery>
Image:Fothergilla major (Witch alder).JPG|thumb|left|250px|Flowers of ''F. major''
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>

==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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