‘Mount Airy’ is a hybrid fothergilla cultivar that was discovered by Michael A. Dirr at the Mt. Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is a vigorous deciduous shrub that grows 4-5’ tall and is noted for its profuse spring flowering, excellent summer foliage, excellent fall colors of orange, red and yellow and consistently upright habit. Terminal, bottle brush-like spikes (1-3” long) of tiny, fragrant, patulous, white flowers bloom in spring (April-May) after the foliage emerges. Flower color comes from the dense clusters of showy stamens (white filaments and yellowish anthers). Flowers have a honey-scented fragrance.
