How to Grow and Care for Witch alder

Mountain witch alder (Fothergilla major) is a deciduous flowering shrub native to the southeastern region of the United States. The latin name Fothergilla major means "larger" and refers to the plant's blossoms.

The powdered blue leaves of dwarf witchalder 'Blue Shadow' are what make it unique among its family. Discovered as a sport of the hybrid F. ‘Mount Airy’ variant, this cultivar was aptly named for its shadowy-blue foliage color. Dwarf witchalder 'Blue Shadow' is an extremely popular variety for its distinctive seasonal hues, lovely flowers, and ease of care.

Witch alder 'Mount Airy' produces a large number of bottlebrush-shaped, honey-scented white flowers that contrast nicely with its foliage. Its blue-green leaves transition into bright shades of red and orange in the fall. This cultivar is thought to be derived from Fothergilla gardenii and Fothergill major. It is named for the location the original specimen was collected from, the Mt. Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati, Ohio.