If you’re looking for a cheerful addition to offset dreary days, look no further than witch hazel (Hamamelis). This small to medium understory tree fits easily into most yards and isn’t fussy about care. It blooms in late winter through early spring, often opening as soon as a warm spell occurs.
This is usually February through April in zone 6, but this year my hybrid cultivar Jelena opened in January, as soon as temperature warmed. You can’t beat that for winter pizzazz!
These charming understory trees typically reach 10 to 15 feet high and wide. Clusters of ribbon-like bracts surrounding a small red-brown flower held tight to the branches. Most bloom bright yellow; other colors include orange, red and mauve-pink. The show typically starts in February and lasts for weeks. Even a covering of snow doesn’t faze them!
The petal-like bracts are long, twisted and ribbon-like. During cold spells they often curl up tightly, only to unfurl again when the weather turns mild, like old-fashioned party horns!
Cultivars to Consider
There are four species: Chinese, Japanese, and two North American natives, plus a number of hybrids — which is what I recommend. [Skip to hybrids.]
Species
Chinese hamamelis mollis is highly fragrant. Cultivars for the home gardener include Superba and Goldcrest. I cannot vouch for these, as I’ve never grown them.
Japanese witch hazel, Hamamelis japonica, is not hardy in zone 6 or anywhere with extreme cold, but is used in breeding programs. In its native Japan, japonica is featured in tea ceremonies.
Vernal or Hamamelis vernalis, is native to streambanks in the Ozarks. Its tiny flowers have an intense scent but the visual display is subtle.
Virginia or Hamamelis virginiana is used in the manufacture of commercial astringent that we’re all familiar with. It’s a vigorous fall bloomer that grows in a vase shape from 18 to 25 feet tall. Because it’s a woodland understory tree, it does well in part sun to full shade. If you want to grow this species, Harvest Moon and Little Suzie are prolific bloomers derived from this large native.
This species blooms in the fall.
Hybrids
Hamamelis x intermedia are crosses of the Chinese and Japanese species. They have showy flowers and are fairly compact, reaching only about 12 – 15 feet and as wide. This makes them perfect for smaller suburban yards. The main choices are:
- Arnold Promise (yellow)
- Jelena (orange)
- Diane (red)
- Ruby Glow (pink)
Ruby Glow is relatively new. I haven’t seen it for sale locally yet, but after seeing these photos, I want one! Wow.
There are a few other hybrids, with more coming out all the time. Be sure to ask if they are fragrant and ask to see a photo of the blooms. Some have insignificant flowers, which may disappoint.
Great Fall Color
Regardless of cultivar, all witch hazels produce striking fall color in their foliage, ranging from medium yellow through golds, mauves and copper tones. They are very reliable fall color machines.
Bewitching Fragrance
Besides color, an excellent reason to plant witch hazel is scent. To walk past a fragrant witchhazel is to literally inhale a breath of fresh air. The bracing scent is hard to describe, but it isn’t at all like that of witch hazel astringent. It’s much, much fresher, like a breeze after rain. You have to experience it.
My pick for fragrance is Arnold Promise. Scent is subjective of course, and the strength and quality of fragrance varies year to year, even within cultivars. Still, I haven’t found another hybrid as reliable or pleasant smelling as Arnold. Jelena is supposed to be very fragrant, but so far my specimen is only faintly so. It may need time to mature.
At my former property, I planted Arnold Promise right by the house so I could enjoy the scent up close. I wasn’t about to shovel snow just to indulge my nose! A bonus was being able to enjoy seeing it from several windows when the weather turned cold.
Cultivation
Nothing could be easier. These tough trees are undemanding and maintenance-free. The attractive foliage stays neat all year. Long-lived and disease free, witch hazels are unbothered by pests, take heat and humidity in stride and are unappetizing to deer. (Do, however, protect young saplings from “buck rub” with wire or other barrier. Two years ago I had a buck scrape my Jelena witch hazel badly; luckily it pulled through, but the damage stunted it.)
Witch hazels like loamy, well-draining, slightly acidic soil or amended clay. Because they have a taproot, they do resent being moved once established. Pruning is minor (remove any obvious suckers) but often not needed at all. Water and mulch as you would any young tree.
Placement
Witch hazels are versatile. While they flower best in full or half-day sun, they will also thrive in dappled areas and woodsy borders. Multi-trunked specimens can be grown like a shrub or trained to a single trunk. Some are vase-shaped; others have a spreading crown. As mentioned earlier, if you want to enjoy their fragrance don’t put them too far away from your house. Place as you would a dogwood.
If you have the space, consider a pair or a group of three to five. Evergreens, dogwoods, azalea, winterberry, holly, pyracantha and birch all make wonderful companions. Underplant them with spring bulbs and you’ll have a show that will take you from February through April!
photo by Jessie Smith (off the web)
The next time you visit Longwood Gardens in late winter, you must check out the fabulous witch hazel grove along the promenade leading to the conservatories. They are just lovely.
