Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Shadow' (Dwarf Fothergilla)

Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Shadow,' also called dwarf fothergilla or simply 'Blue Shadow' fothergilla, is an ecologically valuable, compact ornamental shrub found through the American southeast. Noted for its attractive silvery blue-green hued foliage and pincushion-type white flowers, dwarf fothergilla is commonly used for low to medium-sized hedges and borders to provide multi-season interest in the landscape. Fragrant, creamy-white flowers cover the low, mounded, dense form in spring, followed by attractive leaves in late spring and summer. In the fall, foliage turns to a striking medley of yellow, red, and orange.

Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Shadow' typically grows to 3-5' tall and slightly wider in a mounding form, and produces its showy, aromatic flowers in early spring before foliage set, similar to other members of the witch hazel family. The 'Blue Shadow' cultivar's flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, especially bees, which adds to its ecological value and its aesthetic value too. 'Blue Shadow' fothergilla prefers partial sun, but can tolerate sunnier conditions, and is not at all picky about soil type; 'Blue Shadow' is happy to sit a bit wet, and tolerates deer damage to boot.