Fetterbush is a low spreading, twiggy deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family that is native to the eastern USA. It grows in moist forests, granite domes, heath balds and bogs at elevations up to 5000 feet and is found in the mountains of NC. It generally grows 6-8 feet high and flowers before the leaves appear in spring. The white urn-shaped flowers dangle on arching one-sided racemes at the ends of last years twigs. The fall color is red. This plant requires moist fertile soil in partial shade. It may be difficult to find for sale.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Mountains
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are oval to lance-shaped on short stems and 2-5 inches long by .5 to 1 inch wide. Taper at both ends, finely toothed and downy along veins and midrib on the underside. Fall color is red.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Urn
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
One-sided recurving racemes of white pendulous urn-shaped flowers with 5 fused petals. Blooms from April to June on the terminal twigs of the previous year.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Round capsules that are green and then mature to brown flattened at either end and lobed with a persistant style. Displays from August to October
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
U.S.A., NC
Distribution
GA , KY , NC , NY , OH , SC , TN , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Resistant to deer damage. Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Seeds eaten by birds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds