I just planted one this year (dormant in early April) and the new growth is green and matures to blue.

I have the same problem, so I called the grower and he consulted with others including the "breeder of the original plant." They've had this complaint before and are not sure why the reversion to f. Mt Airy from which the Blue Shadow cultivar was a sport. He suggested I prune the non-glaucous branches back to the roots. I planted it this spring so I'm not dealing with huge branches.

if you just planted it.. it is in shock ... and it is not surprising it might be doing weird things..

i would not cut anything off a new transplant.. until it leafs out next spring.. and then make your determination..

if you had started your own post.. you could have checked the box to get this reply to you, pat.. i often wonder if peeps who reply to old posts.. actually get the replies that are made ...

ken

The green branches are root suckers that have reverted back to the Mt. Airy form. It is best to cut these branches out if you want the plant to remain blue.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Plant Hunter

every leaf on a transplant is a food making machine..

if you cut off half the plant.. you take away half its food making ability ... and thereby impact its ability to grow the root mass to get 'established ...

its ridiculous ... w/o a picture.. to

absolutely state they are root suckers ...

and the link above.. does not show me anything relevant.. on a cursory review.. perhaps i missed it ...

bottom line .. you can always cut them off later.. you cant staple and tape them back on ... lol

ken

Mine greened up during the heat of summer. Returned to blue the next spring. So unless the NEW growth is green there is NO need to cut it down.

@whaas_5a, I know this is an old thread (take it easy Ken :-) ), but I am curious if your Blue Shadow continued to stay blue. I didn't see this thread and I started another thread on my own Blue Shadow's reversion and there is more evidence and concurrence of reversion in Blue Shadow. I contacted the grower and the breeder and they both agree it is reversion. My neighbor (same plant stock) has the same problem.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5962694/does-fothergilla-blue-shadow-revert

I read that Blue Shadow Fothergillas prefer highly acidic soil, and a lack of acidity can cause the leaves to stay green or even yellow.

The problem with Fothergilla 'Blue Shadow' is that it is apt to revert to the normal green leaves. This is something that happens frequently with variegated leaves (this week I saw a Cornus controversa 'Variegata' with one branch that had entire green leaves) and is also possible for non-green leaves. The different leaf colour just isn't entire stable.

I have seen Fothergilla 'Blue Shadow' in nursery beds with about 10 procent with one or more branch with normal green leaves.

Reversion

take them off or youll have an ordinary green shrub i a few years

mine did that

i just kerp an eye on it