2. Pruning and caring are practices that will enhance blooming and growth. Witch-hazel is a large somewhat suckering shrub that can even grow into a small tree over time. The abundance of pale yellow fall flowers that accompanies the foliage comes as a wonderful late-season surprise. It easily reaches 11 feet (3.5 m) in height and diameter and sometimes up to 20 feet (6 m). Until the last storm it shared the space with oaks, birches and beech trees, but several of those much taller trees fell, and now the slope is almost completely dominated by Witch Hazel. In the wild, it prefers moist situations. Witch Hazels develop nice green leaves where the crinkles of the veins look as though someone folded them perfectly across an axis. Autumn may really be the beginning of the season for Hamamelis however, because their leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red or purple before falling to reveal their unique architectural structure. Other Names: American witch-hazel, common witch-hazel, witch hazel. Shipping Information. The yellow, strap-like flowers of this native shrub are among the last blooms to appear in fall, but are often hidden by the leaves. Topical treatments of witch hazel have been shown to be effective for treating acne. It has yellow blooms with red centers that appear in winter to early spring. The graceful vase-shaped structure is just a bonus, with some varieties having additional attributes of fall color or fragrance. Landscape Uses . Witch hazel bark is a traditional herb of the North American Indians who used it to heal wounds, treat tumours, eye problems etc[254]. Witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, native to North America, is a shrub found all along the east coast, from Florida all the way up to Nova Scotia. Watering: Let your soil dry to the touch down to about 2 inches in between waterings. Commercially produced witch hazel cultivars are generally grafted or budded onto Hamamelis virginiana rootstocks. Moist soil is preferred although average to moderate moisture will suffice. It typically grows to 8-12’ tall and to 10-15’ wide over 10 years. Witch hazel propagation can be difficult, and some horticultural expertise and experience is required. Hamamelis vernalis (Ozark witch hazel) is a 6- to 10-foot shrub hardy in zones 4 to 8. Foliage – deciduous Flowering – January to March. A large shrub to small tree, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a stunning plant that flowers in Autumn and into Winter. Full sun-medium sun/average shade. The native Witch Hazel is uniquely adapted to colonizing steep rocky slopes, where little else can find a footing, and it has done so on our slopes with abandon. The beautifully fragrant flowers resemble yellow spiders on the branches as the petals are long and spindly, and this variety is the plant with the wonderful medicinal qualities that are so valued throughout the cosmetics and skin lotions world. Varieties of Witch Hazel. Full sun to part shade. A lovely shrub for the winter garden it also has lovely leaf colour in autumn. Witch-hazel is a dazzling shrub that blooms in winter, as early as January.. Witch-hazel facts, a summary. Prized for its profusion of sweetly fragrant flowers and its lovely fall colors, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' (Witch Hazel) is a very eye-catching winter-flowering shrub. Plant March-November. Witch hazel cuttings are not easy to root or keep alive. In the vernacular, common witch hazel is sometimes known as snapping hazel because when the seed pods ripen, the explosive discharge can send seeds flying up to 30 feet away. Hardy to -13 degrees Fahrenheit. WITCH HAZEL. Name – Hamamelis Family – Hamamelidaceae Type – shrub. The native common witch hazel is an understory plant that becomes leggy if it has to reach for light, but in the open, it develops into a graceful, spreading shrub about 20 feet tall. Each flower consists of 4 golden ribbon-like, crinkled, strap-shaped petals, delicately tinged with claret-red at their bases. At Direct Native Plants, we take many precautions to make sure your plants will arrive in the best condition possible. Witch hazel is a plant. Light Level. Common witch-hazel is a large shrub with a picturesque irregular branching habit that naturally grows along woodland edges. You may see a product called witch hazel water (Hamamelis water, distilled witch hazel extract). Once your soil is … Cuttings are therefore unlikely to match the parent plant. Jelena Witch Hazel grows as a large shrub with a spreading habit and thrives in the shade. 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