This rare shrub of the Mountains and Piedmont of North Carolina is similar to Fothergilla gardenii of the Coastal Plain, but has larger leaves, larger flowers, and grows in dry habitats instead of wet habitats. It is most frequently seen as a garden ornamental, grown for both its fragrant bottlebrush-like flowers and its brilliant orange-red fall foliage. Also called Large Witch-alder.

The planted specimen at left is actually a hybrid, Fothergilla gardenii × major 'Mount Airy.' (I still haven't seen F. major in the wild).

Chapel Hill, NC 4/11/04.