Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Mist' is a compact deciduous shrub known for its showy white bottlebrush flowers, fragrant spring bloom, and striking blue green foliage that deepens in color through summer before turning fiery red, orange, and yellow in fall. Its small size and seasonal transitions make it ideal for mixed borders and foundation plantings where it can be appreciated across multiple seasons.
Height & Spread: 24 - 36 in x 24 - 36 in
Bloom Time: April to May
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Moist, acidic, well drained soil with high organic content
Watering Needs: Moderate; maintain even moisture during establishment
Deer Resistance: Deer tolerant once established
Native Status
Fothergilla gardenii is native to the southeastern United States. The 'Blue Mist' cultivar maintains the ecological value and adaptability of the species while offering more refined foliage coloration and a smaller stature.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- The nectar rich flowers provide early season food for native bumblebees, small carpenter bees, and honeybees emerging from dormancy.
Butterflies
- Attracts early flying butterflies such as Spring Azures and Eastern Commas offering one of the first nectar sources of the season.
Birds
- The dense branching structure offers cover for nesting birds such as chickadees and cardinals during spring and early summer.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 3 - 4 ft apart to allow mature shrubs to form rounded natural clumps without crowding adjacent plantings.
Landscape Placement:
- Well suited to woodland borders, native plant gardens, foundation beds, or mixed shrub borders where early flowers and fall foliage shine.
Companion Plants
- Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry) - Similar soil preferences and overlapping bloom seasons enhance pollinator habitat and fall color displays.
- Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel) - Both thrive in acidic woodland settings and offer contrasting floral shapes and textures in late spring.
- Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride' - Soft mounding foliage and creamy flower spikes brighten shade and echo the tones of spring bottlebrush blooms.
- Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla' - Bold red blooms and evergreen foliage pair with Fothergilla’s compact form and seasonal leaf transitions.
- Carex pensylvanica - A native sedge that carpets the ground beneath shrubs adding fine texture and preventing soil erosion.