Japanese name: シロバナマンサク（白花満作） Scientific name:Fothergilla
[Overview]
A deciduous shrub.
The leaves are simple and alternate, elliptic to ovate, with notches or coarse teeth along the upper margin.
They turn yellow to red in autumn.
It flowers before or at the same time as the leaves unfold.
Head-like to spike-like inflorescences appear at the branch tips.
The flowers have no petals; the thick white filaments of the stamens stand out, making the whole inflorescence brush-like.
The fruit is a hard capsule with a beak-like projection.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by layering, or by cuttings.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
Places exposed to strong afternoon sun are unsuitable.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient except when sunny weather continues in summer and the soil dries out.
Apply slow-release fertilizer or oil cake as fertilizer in winter and as a thank-you fertilizer after flowering.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
[Notes]
The plants sold in Japan under the name Shirobana-mansaku are Fothergilla major, F. gardenii and hybrid cultivars.
