Fothergilla gardenii Blue Mist (Dwarf Fothergilla)

Distinctive for its soft blue summer foliage, Fothergilla gardenii ‘Blue Mist’ (Dwarf Fothergilla) is a deciduous, dwarf ornamental shrub that adds long-lasting beauty to the landscape during 3 seasons. In spring, this compact, slow-growing, mounded shrub gets beautifully covered with honey-scented, upright, creamy-white bottlebrush-like flowers, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm), before the leaves emerge.

Distinctive for its soft blue summer foliage, Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Mist' (Dwarf Fothergilla) is a deciduous, dwarf ornamental shrub that adds long-lasting beauty to the landscape during 3 seasons. In spring, this compact, slow-growing, mounded shrub gets beautifully covered with honey-scented, upright, creamy-white bottlebrush-like flowers, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm), before the leaves emerge. In summer, the foliage of oval leaves is an attractive frosty blue-green, which creates a striking contrast with the other plants. In fall, the foliage usually turns a glowing yellow, orange, and red, with all colors present in the same leaf.

  • This dense, bushy shrub spreads slowly by suckers and typically grows 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm).
  • This plant is easily grown in full sun to part shade in average, medium, well-drained soils. Prefers moist, rich, acidic soils. To get the best floral and foliage display, give your Fothergilla as much sunshine as possible.
  • Winner of the Gold Medal Award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
  • Low maintenance, this plant is generally pest and disease free.
  • Plant as a specimen or in mixed shrub borders. Great flowering shrub with rhododendrons or azaleas. Perfect for low hedges, foundation plantings, rain gardens, or native plantings.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer under mist or air layering in summer

Requirements

Hardiness 5
– 8

Heat Zones 1
– 9

Climate Zones 2, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Fothergilla
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall
Height 2'
– 3'
(60cm
– 90cm)
Spread 2'
– 3'
(60cm
– 90cm)
Spacing 24″
– 36″
(60cm
– 90cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Garden Uses Hedges and Screens, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden