Blue Hawaii Fothergilla. This is a new blue foliage selection one of our outstanding native species, Fothergilla major, and is reported to be somewhat more compact than the species at 4-6 ft, with an almost equal spread. Leaves open green and then quickly turn to a powder slivery blue. It is an excellent bloomer, even when quite small with its powder puff fragrant white apetalous flowers. The showy parts of the bloom are actually its stamens. It might surprise one to know that it is in the Witchhazel family, Hamamelidaceae. It flowers for us in mid zone 8 from late March to mid April. Fall color is an attractive orange to red. We grow it in full sun, but we do water every day during the warmer months, but it might be happier with afternoon shade in its southern most climes. Since it does well in acidic soils, it is a good companion with Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
Zones 5-9
