hamamelis

( ham - ah - MAY - liss )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Witch Hazel, this genus of deciduous shrubs and trees needs full sun to partial shade and regular water to perform well. They are known for their clusters of spidery red and yellow flowers that appear before leafout in wintertime. The flowers bloom over a long period and are fragrant, smelling slightly of citrus. Witch Hazel shrubs have a spreading habit with zig-zag branches, and their branches and blooms are used in cut flower arrangements. Fall foliage is brightly colored.

Hamamelis species and varietals

​The genus Hamamelis includes three species and various varieties, and is a member of the plant family Hamamelidaceae. Witch Hazel growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.​

Hamamelis x intermedia
Best in zones 3-7 and 15-17, this group of hybrids bloom sin wintertime and are crosses between Hamamelis mollis and Hamamelis japonica. They reach 12-15 feet tall and about as wide, and are often grafted. Varieties are listed below.
'Arnold Promise'
Early bloomer with bright yellow flowers. Fall foliage is red, orange and yellow.
'Carmine Red'
Flowers are light red and fall foliage is reddish-orange.
'Diane'
Flowers are dark red, aging to an orange-red color. Fall foliage is reddish-purple.
'Feuerzauber' ('Magic Fire', 'Fire Charm')
This variety has copper-orange to red flowers and fall foliage in bright red.
'Jelena' ('Copper Beauty')
​Flowers are copper orange-red, and fall color is scarlet, red and orange.
'Moonlight'
Blooms are pale yellow with red bases. Fall color is yellow.
'Pallida'
Light yellow flowers and yellow fall color.
'Primavera'
Early bloomer with large petals in light yellow. Fall foliage is yellow and orange.
'Ruby Glow'
Copper-red flowers and fall foliage in bright red.
'Sunburst'
Heavy bloomer with yellow flowers with no scent. Fall foliage is yellow.
'Westerstede'
Yellow-orange flowers and orange to red fall color.

Hamamelis japonica (Japanese Witch Hazel)
This species is native to Japan and grows well in zones 2b-7 and 15-17. It has an erect, tree-like habit to 12-15 feet tall and wide. Flowers are lightly scented, yellow and small and appear in late winter to early springtime. Fall color is various shades of red, purple and yellow.

Hamamelis mollis (Chinese Witch Hazel)
Best in zones 2b-7 and 15-17, these shrubs are native to China and grow at a moderate rate. They can reach 8-10 feet tall and wide as a shrub, or be grown as a 30-foot tall tree. Leaves are dark green and rough with grey, felted undersides. Fall foliage is yellow. Golden yellow wintertime flowers have a rich fragrance and have reddish brown sepals. The flowering branches are wonderful in cut arrangements. Varieties include 'Coombe Wood' (with profuse blooms and great fragrance), 'Early Bright' (with early blooming flowers), 'Goldcrest' (with larger flowers than the species that appear a bit later in the year), and 'Wisely Supreme' (faster growing than the species, with good disease resistance and fragrant flowers).

Hamamelis virginiana (Beadwood, Common Witch Hazel, American Witch Hazel)
This species is best in zones 1-9, 14-16 and 18-21. It is native to the eastern areas of North America, and can reach 25 feet tall, though it is commonly grown to a size of around 10-15 feet tall and wide in garden environments. It has an open, spreading habit This plant is the source of the skin treatment (in lotion or liquid form) Witch Hazel. Fall foliage is yellow to orange, and fall flowers are fragrant, small and golden-yellow. Bark is light reddish-brown in color.

Propagation

​Hamamelis can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Hamamelis by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In late summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Hamamelis by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The time of harvest will depend on which species you are growing; look for dry, brown seed capsules that are just beginning to open. Cut them off of the shrub or tree, and place them in a paper bag.
  3. Caesalpinia seeds need to be cold-stratified before being sown. Place your seeds in a moistened peat moss bed inside of a sealable plastic bag. Keep at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for three months, and then remove them and set them out to dry. Dried seeds can be kept for up to a year in the refrigerator in an airtight container if you're not ready to use them quite yet.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-3 months from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.​
The seeds on Hamamelis shrubs and trees are contained inside brown seed capsules. When ripe, they are ejected, and can be expelled up to 30 feet away from the tree.
Hamamelis seeds are dark brown to black and shiny.

Problems and Pests

Witch Hazel shrubs and trees suffer from the following pests and issues:
  • Caterpillars
  • Japanese Beetles
  • Aphids
  • Leafminer
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Leaf Spot
  • Crown and Root Rot
For more information, see the following links:
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Gallery

Hamamelis seed pods that are just starting to form.
Witch Hazel has beautiful fall foliage.
Plant Hamamelis shrubs close to sitting areas, where their fragrance and flower show can be admired.

Videos

How to grow Witch Hazel shrubs.
Planting and caring for Hamamelis shrubs.
Use Witch Hazel to add wintertime color to your garden.
How to prune your Hamamelis shrubs.

Resources

Wikipedia: Hamamelis virginiana
Wikipedia: Witch-hazel
Witch Hazel
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 351, Hamamelis
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