Description:

A dense, arching and sprawling evergreen shrub that will mass into a thicket; small sweetly fragrant white flowers bloom in late winter to early spring on old wood; handsome foliage is dark green and glossy; thrives well in boggy wet soil

Ornamental Features

Fetterbush is draped in stunning clusters of fragrant white bell-shaped flowers with pink overtones hanging below the branches from late winter to early spring. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. It features abundant showy dark brown capsules with black overtones from late summer to mid fall.

Landscape Attributes

Fetterbush is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering
• Self-Seeding

Fetterbush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Fetterbush will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is an amazingly adaptable plant, tolerating both dry conditions and even some standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets..