Hybrid Witch Hazel
All witch hazels are delightful for their spicily fragrant, delicately showy winter flowers. During periods of extreme cold the flower petals curl up into a tight ball, and thus can withstand prolonged periods covered with ice in 0° F weather. While this hybrid is not as fragrant or as restrained in size as some others, it is the showiest of all the witch hazels available in the United States. As early as February its leaf¬less branches are covered with deep yellow blossoms that last about a month. The red-flowered cultivars, such as ‘Jelena’(which is actually a coppery orange), while interesting, are not as outstanding from a distance as are the ones with yellow flowers. This is not a shrub for small gardens—it will eventually reach 15 to 20 feet in height with a comparable spread. Expect an outstanding show of fall color in reds, oranges, and yellows before the leaves drop.
Plant witch hazels in deep. rich soil that has an abundant supply of moisture. While they will not tolerate drought. they don’t need to be pampered—they are virtually pest free. Use them as screens. backgrounds, or large focal points, or train them into small trees. Because witch hazels perform well in filtered shade.
they make an excellent choice for a naturalized woodland under-story. Consider planting them near windows. where their winter blooms can be seen from indoors on a cold day.
Hamamelis vernalis (Vernal Witch Hazel; Zones 6 to 9) has a neat. small habit (6 to 10 feet high and usually much wider) that is round and dense. Powerfully fragrant small yellow flowers appear in January and February. The leaves turn a clear yellow in the fall. It is native to gravelly, often-flooded stream banks in the Ozark mountains.
Hamamelis virginiana (Common Witch Hazel; Zones 5 to 9) is the hardiest but also the largest and rangiest of the witch hazels. growing 20 to 30 feet high and wide. Its yellow flowers in November and December often coincide with the clear yellow fall foliage, reducing their effectiveness, but they are quite fragrant. It is native to forest understories from Canada to Georgia and west to Nebraska.
