Diverse in size and color, these trees can be low-maintenance stars of any late-winter garden
In the Northeast , there is hardly a more valuable garden works than one that blooms in the wintertime . tally that desired trait to a works that is relatively pest - free , has gorgeous autumn color , and has branch that are easy to force in midwinter with lovely fragrant blossoms , and you have hag hazels ( Hamamelisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) .
beldame hazels are an ideal lowly tree diagram or great bush for Northeast gardens , and there is a size for almost anyone . The showiest selections come fromH.×intermedia , which is a cross between two Asian specie , Taiwanese witch hazel ( Hamamelis mollis , Zones 5–8 ) and Nipponese witch hazel ( H. japonica , Zones 5–8 ) . These intercrossed cultivars offer up the largest plants , the flashy floral displays , and the widest range of color . However , H.×intermediais only reliably hardy through USDA Zone 5 , so I would also like to put in you to an choice for those gardening in the cold zone of the Northeast . The North American aboriginal speciesH. vernalis(Zones 3–8 ) and its many beautiful cultivar tender virtually as full a color range of mountains , but on shrubs that are about half the stature ofH.×intermedia .
The best cultivars ofH.×intermedia
The wide range of colors is what makes gardeners want more than one cultivar ofH.×intermediain our garden . ‘ Arnold Promise ’ is a giant of a plant , vigorous , and a heavy bloomer , with clearly promising icteric flowers . democratic with garden designers , it ’s my go - to starter plant for any Zone 5 or above garden . In the background could be ‘ Jelena ’ , with its rich coppery orangeness flowers , along with ‘ Diane ’ , which has flower the color of cream of tomato soup .
While those are the selections ofH.×intermediamore commonly encounter in the patronage , there are piles of new or lesser - experience survival that can be incur online , often bring in from breeders in the Netherlands or Japan . Each is often unique and worth seeking out . I peculiarly like ‘ Gingerbread ’ , with its deep tangerine tree flower and saltation foliation that start out out purple . ‘ Glowing Embers ’ is a very special cultivar , with flowers that have a fruit - loopy blend of colors that are lucky white-livered at the top of the petals and gradate to a deep merlot at the base of the petals . Last year I added a few more strange cultivar that have yet to bloom . One has very retentive , strawberry pinkish to yellow , bicolored petals ; it ’s called ‘ Spanish Spider ’ .
A good source forH.×intermediacultivars isGossler Farms in Springfield , Oregon , a baby’s room that carry over 30 cultivars of this mark . Each year I govern two or three witch hazels from them to add to my ever - develop collection .
The best cultivars ofH. vernalis
H. vernalistends to have a smaller blossom size compare toH.×intermedia , but it have up for it with a stronger fragrance . H. vernalisis also the metal money used to distill the astringent available in pharmacies , and like all witch Pomaderris apetala , it blossom quickly even in January when cut branches can be bring in indoors to force with small effort .
Keep in head thatH. vernalisplants are on the short side , often hardly get hold of 6 to 8 feet tall . On the other bridge player , the color range ofH. vernaliscultivars is wide today than it was decennary ago . It now extend beyond the pale ( yet adorable ) yellowness of the native species to admit bright orange with ‘ Orange Surprise ’ and even a rich purpleness with ‘ Purpurea ’ .
Make sure to give your witch hazel ample room to grow
While witch hazel can be classify as understory tree , perhaps the greatest mistake one can make is to undervalue their ultimate height . ‘ Arnold Promise ’ can reach 20 feet tall in 10 year . Others , such as the cerise - flower ‘ Diane ’ , may only reach 8 feet marvelous but can circularise to over 12 foot all-embracing in as few as 10 years . Other than that , witch hazel are easy to grow . They are adaptable to most soil conditions and most light conditions except for deep shade . mere annual pruning may be need to establish just a few thick , upright trunks and to move out any sucker . I do this in winter so that I have branches to force inside .
Look further than your local garden center for great specimens
I consider that the cause why witch hazels are rare in our gardens is that greenhouse know that most shrub and trees are sold when plant are in bloom , and since these are true winter - blossom plants , they look their best in February or former March . Many northeasterly garden centers are closed during this time , and the ones that are unresolved are sparsely visit . Most of us do n’t even think to natter our garden centers until leap . A few nurseries that are open will arrange plants in vertex bloom near their doorways on meek days in winter for impulse purchases , but ideally , those who need a skillful witch hazel plant may require to investigate ahead at their local nursery or use mail order , which will ensure a wider selection , but often at the cost of a smaller - sized plant than one would get at a greenhouse .
On my compliments list of things to do is what a few innovative garden interior decorator have already done , and that is to set a rainbow course that feature the full spectrum of colors that these fabulous winter - blooming trees are open of . depend on the severity of any particular Northeastern winter , one could have blush starting as betimes as January that last well into March . Yet with a severely cold winter , many witch hazels hold off until March or even April to show their coloring material . Regardless , they are always the first welcome star sign of a outflow to do .
— Matt Mattus is a lifelong gardener and vice president of the Worcester ( Mass. ) County Horticultural Society . He ’s write two books : control the Art of Flower GardeningandMastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening .
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‘Diane’ witch hazel flowers have creamy red petals with dark red centers.Photo: Jennifer Benner
‘Jelena’ is a well-loved variety for its multicolor petals that glow with streaks of red, orange, and yellow.Photo: Jennifer Benner
‘Gingerbread’ is a unique variety, with orange-red flowers in late winter and spring growth that begins as a deep burgundy purple before turning green.Photos: Adam Wheeler, Broken Arrow Nursery
H. vernalishas smaller flowers thanH. ×intermediacrosses, but its flowers grow very densely along its branches and are delicately perfumed.Photo: Jennifer Benner
‘Arnold Promise’ is one of the most common witch hazel varieties available, but some purchasers aren’t aware of how large it grows.Photo: Jennifer Benner
After pruning my ‘Arnold Promise’ witch hazel, I brought these long, flower-covered stems inside for a beautiful and fragrant display.Photo: Matt Mattus
