Habitat

• the costal plain of the southeastern United States, as well as parts of Florida and Alabama
• zone 5, possibly 4

Habit and Form

• a deciduous shrub
• 3' to 6' tall
• multi-stemmed, suckering shrub
• rounded to upright oval-shape
• dense and compact

Summer Foliage

• alternate simple leaves
• leaves are 1" to 2.5" long
• shape is somewhat rounded with rounded teeth on the margin toward the tip
• color is dark green to blue-green
• undersides are pale green

Autumn Foliage

• usually excellent, although some plants are not as good as others
• a mix of yellow-orange-red-purple

Flowers

• blooms is early to mid-May
• white, bottle brush-shaped flower clusters
• flower clusters are 1" to 2" long
• lightly fragrant

Fruit

• green capsules
• not ornamentally important

Bark

• slender stems do not present an important bark display

Culture

• prefers a moist, acidic, cool, well-drained soil
• partial shade to full sun
• relatively care-free

Landscape Use

• excellent multi-season plant; spring flowers, high quality summer foliage, good fall foliage color
• foundation plant
• shrub border
• naturalistic areas
• in groupings

Liabilities

• relatively free form pests and problems

ID Features

• bottle brush-shaped white flowers
• yellow-orange-red fall color
• dense, compact habit
• suckering
• finer or smaller features than F. major

Propagation

• by cuttings
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

'Blue Mist' - This form is unique, as the leaves are an attractive blue-green color, especially in light shade. The tradeoff for this unique trait, however, appears to be less cold hardiness and fall color that is inferior to other forms and the species.

'Jane Platt' - This form is often available commercially, and features a rounded growth habit to 3' tall. The leaves are narrower than the species and the flowers may be a bit larger. Fall color, however, is reported to be less striking than other varieties and the species.