Hamamelis virginiana (Virginian Witch Hazel)
Virginian Witch Hazel, American Witch Hazel, Snapping Hazel Nut, Spotted Alder, Winter Bloom
Noted for its fantastic fall attributes, Hamamelis virginiana (Virginian Witch Hazel) is an erect large, deciduous shrub or small tree, with sweetly-scented, bright yellow flowers in fall. Each flower consists of 4 golden ribbon-like, slightly-twisted, crinkled petals. Clustered along the arching branches, the flowers emerge when you least expect it and may linger on the branches into December. This Witch Hazel sports smooth, broadly oval leaves, which open light green before turning dark green. They warm up to brilliant golden yellow shades in the fall.
Smooth gray bark, handsome architecture, colorful fall foliage and floral splendor make Hamamelis virginiana a great addition to the landscape.
- Grows in a dense multi-stemmed clump, up to 15-20 ft. tall and wide (450-600 cm)
- A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prefers organically rich, moist, acidic soils. Some tolerance for clay soils. Best flowering in full sun.
- Perfect in mixed shrub borders for dramatic winter blooms. Great flowering shrub for woodland gardens, banks and slopes, or as screens and hedges. Perfect as specimen plant.
- Low maintenance, this plant is generally pest free.
- Promptly remove any suckers to prevent spread.
- Prune in early spring after flowering to control shape and size.
- Propagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as they are ripe, or by layering in fall
- Native to eastern Canada, Midwest & East United States, Mexico
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Requirements
| Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 1
– 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
| Plant Family | Hamamelis - Witch Hazels |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Fall Winter |
| Height | 15' – 20' (4.5m – 6m) |
| Spread | 15' – 20' (4.5m – 6m) |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil |
| Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |
Recommended Companion Plants
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lianem / 123RF Stock Photo
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
| Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 1
– 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
| Plant Family | Hamamelis - Witch Hazels |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Fall Winter |
| Height | 15' – 20' (4.5m – 6m) |
| Spread | 15' – 20' (4.5m – 6m) |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil |
| Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |
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