Hamamelidaceae
mountain witch alder
Fothergilla major
Synonyms
Fothergilla latifolia (some sources still list this as the accepted name)
Fothergilla monticola
Fothergilla alnifolia var. major
Other Common Names
tall fothergilla, large witch-alder
Plant Type
Shrub (less than 10 ft)
Life Cycle
Perennial
Typical Size
6-10 ft. tall
5-9 ft. wide
Tolerant of
Deer, Drought
Inolerant of
Poorly Drained Soil
Propagation
By cutting, By division
Plant Propagation Notes
Semi-hardwood cuttings will root with or without rooting hormone. Wait for about one inch of new growth before moving. Root suckers can be divided off to create new plantings.
Plants/Diseases
No serious disease or insect issues.
Wildlife Benefits
Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects
Leaves
Leaves alternate. Leaf blade broadly elliptic or somewhat obovate and asymmetric at the base. Denticulate leaf margins. Dark green leaf surfaces, gray/white undersides. Pubescent veins. Approximately 2-4 inches long by 1-3 inches wide.
Flowers
Flowers lack petals. Spiked clusters of long, showy stamens about 1-3 inches tall.
Fruit
Capsules with horn-like projections.
Toxicity
No known toxicity.

USDA Hardiness Zones
4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Exposure
Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade
Soil Moisture
Medium, Moist
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acidic (less than 6.0)
Native in South Carolina?
Yes
Plant Native Habitat
Bluffs, dry rocky woodlands, talus slopes, riverbanks, upper piedmont to mountains.
Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)
Vulnerable (G3)
Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)
Not Listed
Distribution Notes
Rare in the SC Mountains and Piedmont and absent from the Coastal Plain.
Imperiled (S2) in South Carolina.