Fothergilla major (Monticola Group) 'Huntsman'

RHS Plant Profile

mountain witch alder 'Huntsman'

RHS

Synonyms

Fothergilla monticola 'Huntsman'

Shrubs

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'Huntsman' is a deciduous, slow-growing, rounded shrub to approximately 1.5m tall. This cultivar has relatively thick, glossy, dark green, broadly ovate leaves with downy undersides that turn shades of orange and red in the autumn. Spikes of white flowers are produced in late spring before the leaves appear

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Hamamelidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Fothergilla are rounded deciduous shrubs with broadly ovate leaves often colouring well in autumn, and small, catkin-like spikes of white flowers in spring
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a humus-rich, moist but well-drained acid soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer under mist or air layering in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility