Fothergilla is a perennial grown for its white blooms, which open in spring and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 7 through 13 and shrugs off deer. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for native bees.
Zones
7-13
pH Range
5-6
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Fothergilla on your exact land.
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What Fothergilla is
Fothergilla grows as a perennial. It blooms white in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Fothergilla
Fothergilla grows in USDA zones 7 through 13. Fothergilla does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 6. It needs a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
7-13
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 6
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-8°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
120+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant fothergilla in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Fothergilla prefers pH 5 to 6 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Harvest at its peak
Cut fothergilla blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — fothergilla isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Fothergilla offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Fothergilla thrives
Fothergilla is hardy across USDA zones 7 through 13. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 7–13·Where Fothergilla growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Fothergilla can grow in these states:
See if Fothergilla will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether fothergilla actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Fothergilla in my zone?
Fothergilla grows in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 13 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Fothergilla?
Most growers plant fothergilla after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Fothergilla need?
Fothergilla does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Fothergilla need?
Fothergilla prefers soil pH 5 to 6 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Fothergilla attract pollinators?
Yes — fothergilla's flowers are a solid nectar source for native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Fothergilla safe for pets?
Fothergilla is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.