Witch hazel, or Hamamelis, may be best known for its therapeutic properties. But, it’s also a star of the late winter garden. And right now in eastern North America, the shrub’s sweet, citrusy scent is drifting across many a landscape. For me, there’s nothing quite like the appearance of witch hazel’s fragrant, shaggy flowers to signal spring is finally on its way.

ABOUT WITCH HAZEL

Witch hazel is native to both North America and Asia. It is composed of four main species. In North America, the two native species are Hamamelis virginiana and Hamamelis vernalis. H. virginiana grows in the eastern part of the United States and blooms in late fall. And H. vernalis grows in the southern and central part of the country and blooms in late winter. 

H. virginiana

In Asia, on the other hand, the two native species are Hamamelis japonica and Hamamelis mollis. Both are winter-blooming.

Recently, a cross between the two species has produced the hybrid Hamamelis x intermedia. More manageable in size, it blooms anywhere from late February to March.

H. mollis

FRAGRANT FLOWERS AND BRILLIANT FALL FOLIAGE

There’s so much to love about this winter-blooming plant. Most species grow to about 15 to 25 feet; the perfect size for a garden corner. Some varieties have a loose, vase-like form while others are more rounded and compact. And in the fall, the shrubs’ smooth, oval leaves turn brilliant shades of red or yellow.

What’s more, when the brown fruits rupture in late summer or early fall, they can fling a single black seed as far as 30 feet into the distance!

Seed pods

Most varieties produce brilliant fall color 

But at the end of the day, the ‘wow factor’ for me lies in witch hazel’s unusual, spidery flowers. Ribbon-like in appearance, they slowly unfold on bare branches in clusters of bright yellow, deep red or occasionally burnt orange. They often last for up to a month.

In Delaware where I grew up, there was a magnificent pair of hamamelis that flanked a corner of the visitor’s pavilion at Winterthur Gardens. Beginning in late February, their buds would begin to swell, revealing slivers of the first dazzling flowers. There was a bright yellow variety and a wine-colored one. And when the shrubs finally reached full bloom, their crisscrossed branches wove a brilliant tapestry of late winter color.

THE BEST VARIETIES FOR YOUR GARDEN

Ready to give witch hazel a try? Here’s a rundown of the four main species and some of their hybrids and cultivars.

Hamamelis x intermedia

These lovely witch hazel varieties are loosely branched and medium-sized. Growing to about 12 feet tall and wide, they have oval leaves that turn yellow in the fall. From late February to March, twisted yellow, red or orange flowers appear on bare stems ahead of spring foliage. Popular cultivars include: Arnold’s Promise, Diane, Jelena, and Pallida.

H. x intermedia

Hamamelis virginiana

This variety produces flowers that are typically bright yellow, although some cultivars produce reddish ones. The shrub’s leaves turn yellow in the fall. Popular cultivars include Little Suzie and Harvest Moon.

H. virginiana

Hamamelis vernalis

Intensely fragrant with crooked stems and an open crown, this shrub’s flowers range in color from yellow to dark red. The petals roll up on cold days. Most noteworthy cultivars include Autumn Embers, Lombart’s Weeping and Sandra.

H. vernalis

Hamamelis japonica

More delicate than the other witch hazel varieties, hamamelis japonica can’t handle extremes in cold weather. As a result, the shrubs are less hardy than other cultivars. In its native Japan, the shrub’s pale yellow, red and purple flowers are prized in tea ceremonies. 

H. japonica

Hamamelis mollis

Considered the most fragrant of all the witch hazel varieties, Hamamelis mollis’ rich yellow flowers with elongated petals are larger than those of other species and have less of a twist. Outstanding cultivars include Goldcrest, Crimson Gold and Superba.

H. mollis

WITCH HAZEL CARE

This is a shrub that needs full sun to flower well. That being said, it will do OK in dappled shade. The most important thing is to give all witch hazel varieties well-drained, loamy, acidic soil. Most species also need a chilling period of at least 2 months with temperatures below 45 degrees to ensure flowering.

In addition to its aesthetic properties, hamamelis extract can be used externally to treat swelling and inflammation. Some say it also helps treat insect bites and poison ivy. Witch hazel’s therapeutic properties gained widespread acceptance in the United States in 1866. This followed the first commercial introduction of an astringent made from its bark and leaves by Thomas Newton Dickinson.

For more information about this versatile, winter-flowering shrub, check out Chicago Botanic Garden’s “Which Witch Hazel Should Be In Your Yard.”