Fothergilla gardenii, also called dwarf or coastal fothergilla, is an ecologically valuable, compact ornamental shrub found through the American southeast. Noted for its attractive toothed 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 thick, toothy blue-green leaves in summer. In the fall, foliage turns to a striking medley of yellow, red, and orange.
Fothergilla gardenii typically grows to 1.5-3' tall and about as wide in a mounding form, and produces its showy, aromatic flowers in early spring before foliage set, similar to other witch-hazels. Flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, especially bees, which adds to its ecological value. Dwarf fothergilla prefers partial or full sun, but is not picky about soil type and requires only medium moist, well-drained soil; it can, however, tolerate wetter soils and deer damage.