What is this shrub?

April 25, 2018 8:17 PM

I bought this unidentified plant while it was dormant over the winter and planted it...now it's in bloom, but I have no idea what it is. ID away!
posted by OneSmartMonkey to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

Best answer: I believe that's witch alder, Fothergilla sp. Couldn't say whether it was F. gardenii or major, I think they're both used ornamentally?
posted by Ornate Rocksnail at 9:57 PM on April 25, 2018

Best answer: Seconding witch alder. You'll have a better idea of exactly what kind once it gets leaves/settles down for a couple growing seasons. The major generally has longer leaves/gets much taller than the gardenia, which is the dwarf form. However, there are now intermedia witch alders, which are a hybrid between the two main species.

Discussion here, with breakdown of types in the "Noteworthy Characteristics" section if you wanna get nerdy about it.
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:36 AM on April 26, 2018

Response by poster: Thank you! The nursery said it was neat with good fall color but the clerk didn't remember the name of it. I'll check out the Missouri link!
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 6:45 AM on April 26, 2018