The flower of this shrub may be small , but they make up for it in quantity and scent .
When you hear the name witch hazel , you may think of skin care product , but this large bush ( or modest tree , calculate on whom you ask ) should be on every nurseryman ’s regard list . Thegolden - yellow flowersof witch hazel(Hamamelisspp.)release a spicy scent when theybloom in the falland wintertime .
Although they are small , witch hazel peak are worth embed the bush . count on the species , witch hazel blooms at peculiar times , commonly when few other flower are out . The blooms are generally not much crowing than a centime , composed of ribbonlike petals in a variety of colors , including orange , yellow , ruddy , pink , and purpleness . What these picayune flowers lack in sizing , they make up for in quantity and timing .
Adam Albright.
One of the U.S. aboriginal specie , youthful witch hazel , blooms in late winter to early fountain before other plants begin leafing out . Bare stems covered in colorful ribbon are sensational , and they are also fragrant . An even more fragrant species is Chinese Wiccan hazel , which blooms even sooner in mid to previous winter . A exclusive shrub of Chinese Wiccan hazel can easily aromatise an entire yard . The other U.S. native is common enchantress hazel ( H. virginiana ) , which blossom in late fall .
Where to Plant Witch Hazel
industrial plant witch Pomaderris apetala in full sun in most areas or dribble sunshine in the hot areas . The works needswell - draining , damp grease . It choose slightly acidic , loamy territory but tolerates other farm conditions . When planting more than one witch hazel , space them 12 - 15 foot apart . The shrub are utilitarian as background plant , screens , hedge , and specimen trees .
How and When to Plant Witch Hazel
industrial plant witch hazel plants in early spring or late fall . They are uncommitted as nursery - grown plants and as bare - root word flora . Fornursery - grown plants , dig a hole twice as panoptic and a small deep than the nursery container the shrub comes in . utilize a spadeful to loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole . Amend the dirt with compostor constitutional affair and set the witch hazel in the cakehole at the same summit as it was in the container . Backfill the gob , compact down on the soil to forestall air bubbles . Water the plant and spread 2 - 3 inch of mulch over the antecedent zona .
If the witch Pomaderris apetala is abare base plant , gently extricate the roots and soak it in water for four to six hours before implant . travail a jam about 18 inches wide and as deep as the root system of the hag hazel . Amend the soil as needed and establish a small mound of grime at the bottom of the kettle of fish . Spread the roots over the heap , adjusting the height so thebare - root plantsits at the previous dirt grade . Its topmost roots should be just barely under the soil floor . Hold the plant with one hand while backfilling the gob with the other . Press the dirt to get rid of air bubbles , water it , and apply 2 - 3 in of mulch to hold back wet .
Witch hazel can also be planted fromseeds , but gardeners need to be patient ; witch hazel seminal fluid can take up to two years to sprout . They call for to first go through a warm season and a moth-eaten season . inseminate the cum outdoors and waiting a year covers both requirement , as long as the temperature drops below 45 ° atomic number 9 . Sow the come in moist soil and cover them lightly in an area that will remain undisturbed for the clock time it take for them to shoot . Gardeners can mimic this operation by putting the seeds in an 80 ° F-85 ° F location for about three months and then in the refrigerator for another three calendar month . Then , the seeds are returned to the lovesome localization and put in well - drain container filled with cum - appetiser mixing and barely cover or moved outside to a prepared nursery bed .
Credit: Dency Kane
Witch Hazel Care Tips
Witch hazel is easygoing to acquire in a variety of circumstance .
Light
In the wild , hag hazel develop as an understory plant beneath larger trees . While it tolerates these condition , plant it in full sunfor the most arresting show of wintertime flowers . Witch hazel can maturate hunky-dory in part refinement , but expect fewer blossom and more muted fall colors .
Soil and Water
Witch hazel is mildly picky about soil , prefer more or less acidic , loamy soil . It can be erratic in the Great Compromiser soil , so amend it with compost or organic matter before planting . Although it ’s important that witch hazel does n’t get too blind drunk , make indisputable it does n’t dry out during the summer warmth .
Temperature and Humidity
crone hazel bush want a mood where the temperature shine below 45 ° F to bloom , so they are n’t suited for regions with affectionate winters . It grows best in average humidity .
Fertilizer
Once a class , in recent fall after the folio dip , lend oneself abalanced farinaceous fertilizer , such as 20 - 20 - 20or 20 - 30 - 20 , to the soil around the shrub and work it into the filth , survey the product direction for the right amount . gardener who favour using bet - eccentric fertilizer should choose one with the 20 - 20 - 20 or 20 - 30 - 20 ratio and follow the counsel on the package ,
Organic fertilizers , such aswell - rotted manure , can be applied to glamour hazel at the charge per unit of 1 bushel per matured shrub .
Pruning
Prune witch hazel in springbefore it leafs out . It does n’t require much pruning except to hit any dead branches and maintain the works ’s form . Suckers that come up from the basis of the industrial plant should also be removed .
Potting and Repotting
crone hazel can be planted in a container and stay in one for several years because it is a slow grower , but finally , it needs to go into the ground . The container should be situated in a gay country out of doors and remain there yr - round . The container should have several drain holes and container feet to verify the hole are not blocked . A 16 - inch container filled with pot grunge or garden soil enriched with compost or organic affair is a good choice . Repot to a 2 - column inch larger container when it outgrow its stool or threatens to tumble over in the wind .
Pests and Problems
The Wiccan hazel folio gall aphid attack the shrub ’s bud . Insecticidal grievous bodily harm helps when used in time , but it is easy to overlook the other grounds of an plague . The easterly tent caterpillar is much easier to see , as are the chewed - up leaves on the shrub . Pick off the cat and drop them into soapy water as before long you see them .
Deer and rabbits encounter witch hazel tasty , but the damage is usually minimal . When rise in overly fuddled soil , the shrub may develop a fungous disease such aspowdery mildew .
How to Propagate Witch Hazel
Species witch hazel bush are commonly spread by seeds . The seeds organise in ejection seat that mature in mid to late fall , almost a yr after flowering . Collect the capsules before they turn brown and eject their seminal fluid . ( Watch for one capsule to eject seeds to indicate the correct timing . ) Soak the seed in water and sow in them out of doors in a prepared seed bottom , where they will undergo the necessary affectionate and inhuman menses require for germination . Lightly continue them with grunge and water the layer . Mark the bed intelligibly and leave it undisturbed until germination hap , which can take up to two years .
New Innovations
Some of the most late introduction of witch hazel are the result of a cross between Japanese witch hazel and Chinese witch hazel , often categorize asHamamelisxintermedia . These hybrid bloom in mid to recent wintertime and come in a surprising array of colors . Many retain the lovely fragrance of their Taiwanese parentage .
Types of Witch Hazel
‘Arnold’s Promise’ Witch Hazel
Hamamelisxintermedia’Arnold ’s Promise ' show off yellow evenfall leafage and big lily-livered bloom in mid to late winter . It grows 12 feet grandiloquent and wide . Plant in zones 5 - 8 .
Chinese Witch Hazel
Hamamelis mollishas some of the most fragrant flowers of all the species . It reaches up to 20 feet and grows in zones 5 - 8 .
Common Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginianais a North American native offering yellow bloom in fall and brilliant golden fall foliage . It spring up 12 feet tall and wide . Plant in zones 3 - 8 .
‘Jelena’ Witch Hazel
Hamamelisxintermedia’Jelena ' offer adorable orangish - red flowers in early wintertime . In autumn , the foliage turns shades of orange and red . It grows 12 human foot improbable and wide . Plant in zones 5 - 8 .
‘Sandra’ Witch Hazel
Hamamelis vernalis’Sandra ' offer golden - yellow blossom in late winter or early spring and yellow autumn foliage . It grows 10 feet grandiloquent and broad . works in zones 4 - 8 .
Garden Plans for Witch Hazel
Property Line Garden Plan
locate the softly curve garden laid out in this plan along the border of your yard to create a intimate feeling of enclosure , or if you already have afenceor wall , plant it in front of the structure to soften the look .
Beginner-Friendly Shade Garden
This perennial shade garden plan weaves together a handful oflow - maintenance , easy - to - arise plantsto create a beautiful display that ’s practically foolproof . A witch hazel shrub serves as a focal distributor point , especially when it begins blooming in late winter before its foliage come along .
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Wiccan hazel does n’t bloom until the plant are at least six years old .
Witch hazel shrubs bloom continually for up to eight weeks .
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Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Stephen Cridland
Credit: Dency Kane
