Hamamelis: planting, cultivation, maintenance and association

Botany

The genus Witch Hazel comprises five or six species of deciduous bushes native to the Far East or North America.

It has given its name to the family Hamamelidaceae, which includes 23 genera and around a hundred species, among which are ornamental plants like Liquidambar, Persian Parrotia, or Corylopsis, all characterised by splendid autumn foliage. It is also known as the ‘Witch Hazel’ or sometimes ‘Golden Spider Tree’ due to its foliage resembling that of the Hazel and its strange spider-like flowering that defies snow and ice.

In its natural state, Witch Hazel grows in wooded areas or at the forest edge. It is sometimes found near water when the soil is sufficiently drained. Slow-growing, Witch Hazel is a bush that will not exceed 4-5 metres (6 at most) in height and spread when mature (after 20 years in the ground). Those expecting a plant of great stature will therefore need to be patient for a few years!

Its reasonable adult size makes it valuable in a small garden, even though it tends to take on a certain breadth as it ages with its light, spreading branches.

Witch Hazel: a superb palette of colours

Witch Hazel has a lovely upright habit, sometimes rounded and spreading as wide as it is tall, with ascending branches.

Some varieties, such as Hamamelis (x) intermedia ‘Feuerzauber’, exhibit a flared silhouette during their youth, then become very flared, resembling the shape of a large cup when the bush is mature.

Ornamental, this bush will surprise you with its original flowers. Fragrant, yellow, coppery orange, or red, they bloom, depending on the species, from October to March, before the leaves appear.

The ‘Witch Hazel’ flowers on wood that is at least one year old. Thread-like, crumpled, almost claw-like, the flowers that dot the bare branches resemble spiders, hence the poetic name ‘Golden Spider Tree’, or evoke witch’s fingers. Their fragility is only apparent as they are very frost-tolerant and can withstand complete ice cover. The cold even intensifies the flowering. Composed of 4 strap-like petals, sometimes twisted, 1 to 2 cm long, they are grouped in dense clusters like pom-poms. They emit a heady fragrance of Hyacinth, Narcissus, lemon, honey, or even tea. Although quite small (2 to 3 cm), their abundance, vibrant hues, and the powerful scent they exude warm up winter.

The foliage, deciduous, is another asset of Witch Hazel. Bright green or purple in spring, then lemon turning to bronze green in summer, the leaves adorn themselves in autumn with shades of yellow, cinnamon orange, brick, bright red, or copper, filling the garden with warm and spicy colours as the days shorten.

Its broad, ovate, dentate or crenate leaves resemble those of the Hazel, with well-marked parallel veins and a somewhat crumpled, sometimes slightly velvety underside. They measure 6 to 15 cm long, depending on the species.

The capsule fruits contain 2 black seeds that reach maturity at the time of the next flowering. The capsules can persist for several years on the branches after releasing their seeds. Note that only the seeds of Hamamelis virginiana are oily and edible.

Foliage of Witch Hazels ‘Diane’,
‘Arnold Promise’
(autumn)
and ‘Ruby Glow’ (autumn)

Easy to grow, Witch Hazel should be planted in rich, fresh but well-drained soil and preferably acidic. Pure heather soil is a bit too poor as a substrate; it should be enriched with compost to ensure vigorous growth. This bush dislikes calcareous soils (some species like Hamamelis mollis are more tolerant). They are, however, particularly resistant to pollution, making them well-suited to the urban atmosphere of city gardens.

Witch Hazel loves the sun, especially in winter, but it fears it if it is too scorching in summer. Prefer cool locations, or with a ‘refreshing’ shade provided in the afternoon in summer by a hedge or a low wall. A situation in a clearing or light shade sheltered from cold, drying winds will preserve its flowering.

Perfectly hardy, it can withstand very low temperatures of -20 °C (down to -35 °C for H. virginiana). This beautiful hardiness ensures it a long life in all regions. However, it should be spared from the Mediterranean climate, which is a bit too hot and dry in summer.

Mysterious, Witch Hazel has long been nicknamed ‘Witch Hazel’. The English still refer to it as such (witch hazel). A linguistic shift, as it was not originally about witches but about dowsers: its flexible branches were used as dowsing rods by Native Americans. The leaves and bark possess astringent properties known to the Virginia Indians for centuries and are used in herbal medicine. Witch Hazel water, found in many cosmetics, has soothing properties for skin inflammations.

Species and main varieties

The most popular varieties

Our favourites

Other interesting varieties

Hamamelis mollis Pallida - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis mollis 'Pallida', a must-have highly appreciated for its winter flowering sulphur yellow, its purple foliage in autumn and its honey fragrance.

• Height at maturity 3 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis intermedia Arnold Promise - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis (x) intermedia 'Arnold Promise', remarkable for its very frayed lemon yellow flowering, as well as for its foliage turning in autumn to bright yellow with a red fringe on the top of the leaves. Its small size makes it very versatile!

• Flowering time February, March
• Height at maturity 4 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis intermedia Feuerzauber - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis (x) intermedia 'Feuerzauber', stands out from other hybrids by its curiously spreading habit when the shrub is mature. Its fragrant flowering is also a bit later and of an astonishing spicy colour, red tinged with copper orange shaded with purple at the base. Its autumn foliage orange to yellow and red, sometimes purplish is remarkable. A must-have!

• Flowering time March, April
• Height at maturity 3,50 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis intermedia Ruby Glow - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis (x) intermedia 'Ruby Glow', it awakens the cold season with its copper red spikes. Its leaves adorn themselves with yellow, brick and copper in autumn: we love it!

• Flowering time February, March
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis intermedia Jelena - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis (x) intermedia 'Jelena' or 'Copper Beauty', with its large fragrant spider-like flowers, coloured in light copper orange shaded with red at the base, they enchant winter!

• Flowering time February, March
• Height at maturity 4 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis intermedia Diane - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis (x) intermedia 'Diane', with a rounded habit and garnet flowers and autumn foliage orange to yellow and red.

• Height at maturity 3,50 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis intermedia Ruby Glow - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis intermedia 'Ruby Glow', which awakens the cold season with its copper red spikes. Its magnificent leaves adorn themselves with yellow, brick and copper in autumn: we love it!

• Flowering time February, March
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis vernalis Amethyst - Witch Hazel

Our 2017 novelty: a sublime variety that bears deliciously fragrant flowers with long purple petals.

• Flowering time March, April
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Hamamelis intermedia Feuerzauber - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis (x) intermedia 'Feuerzauber', it stands out from other Hamamelis hybrids by its curiously spreading habit when the shrub is mature. Its fragrant flowering is also a bit later and of an astonishing spicy colour, red tinged with copper orange shaded with purple at the base. Its autumn foliage orange to yellow and red, sometimes purplish is remarkable.

• Flowering time March, April
• Height at maturity 3,50 m

See the product sheet

• Hamamelis (x) intermedia ‘Primavera’, with yellow flowers, early but not fragrant, it is the only one!
• Hamamelis ‘Westerstede’, with very abundant and rather late golden yellow flowers and a subtle fragrance.
• Hamamelis mollis ‘Brevipetala’, for its bouquets of golden yellow flowers with short petals, an additional oddity for this hybrid!
• Hamamelis (x) intermedia ‘Moonlight’, for its chick yellow flowering speckled with crimson at the base.
• Hamamelis (x) intermedia ‘Orange Beauty’, for its incredible long bright yellow flowering washed with orange and crimson.

Young plantation

Where to plant Witch Hazel?

It can be planted throughout France, except in Mediterranean climates, which are a bit too hot and dry in summer. With its impressive hardiness, it can withstand very low temperatures of -20 °C, ensuring perfect hardiness in all regions. Its flowers, despite their apparent fragility, resist frost.

It is best to protect it from winds that could dry it out and damage its flowers. It thrives in sunlight, as long as it is not too scorching, or in partial shade in a rather humid environment. Too dense shade would result in a somewhat more subdued flowering. It should benefit from maximum light in winter to bloom abundantly and provide beautiful colours in autumn.

Witch Hazel or Witch Hazel Bush

It appreciates slightly acidic, cool, and well-drained soil. It dislikes limestone and should be grown in heather soil or in ordinary non-limestone soil enriched with compost. If the foliage turns yellow and its flowering becomes increasingly subdued, it means the soil is too alkaline for its liking. Transplant it by adding heather soil and forest compost.

Its elegant silhouette should not be hidden: it needs its own space and is ideally planted alone in a well-cleared area, visible from the house. It forms lovely centres in flower beds, standing out against a dark background of evergreen foliage and introducing an original focal point.

It can also be planted in groups of 3 or 5, under large deciduous trees; on frosty mornings, they will offer an enchanting spectacle.

Its slow growth allows it to be grown in a pot while it is still young. This way, you can enjoy its magnificent colours and fragrance on the terrace or near entrances.

When to plant?

Witch Hazel is preferably planted in autumn to encourage rooting before winter. If you are tempted during its flowering period, wait until the end of it to plant.

Purchased in a pot or container, you can plant it outside of autumn, avoiding periods of frost or extreme heat. If you are eager to admire it, do not buy a specimen that is too young: growth is slow, and the bush will only reveal its full splendour after many years.

How to plant it?

Dig a wide hole and add sand mixed with heather soil or turf if the ground is alkaline.

Maintenance and pruning

Maintenance is easy: witch hazel is a bush that is almost insensitive to most diseases as well as to attacks from insects or parasitic organisms. However, it can be affected by coral disease and armillaria.

To combat coral disease: remove and burn the branches showing orange pustules and apply a sealant and a fungicidal treatment if necessary.

Armillaria is a fungus favoured by excess moisture that infiltrates at the root level and destroys the young plant abruptly. It is then advisable to remove the plant and replace the soil all around.

Pruning is not necessary, except to rebalance the shape that becomes more pronounced with age after flowering.

If you are growing witch hazel in a pot:

You can keep a witch hazel in a container for 5 – 6 years. You will enjoy the beauty of its foliage, but the flowering will remain limited. Remember to provide fertiliser once a year and to water during periods of intense heat or prolonged drought.

Multiplication

Witch hazel is a difficult plant to propagate. Seed germination is very slow, and propagation by cuttings is hit or miss, which is why most plants available commercially are obtained through grafting. Grafted witch hazels are sold at an older age, as their growth is slow.

Ingrid tells you more in How to propagate witch hazel in 5 steps?

Garden association

Incontournable des scènes d’hiver, l’Hamamélis est indispensable pour animer le jardin à l’automne et en hiver. Pour profiter pleinement de sa beauté et de son parfum, plantez-le en isolé à proximité de la maison en pot ou sur un fond de verdure permanent composé de conifères, d’arbustes aux feuillages persistants ou de graminées qui mettront en valeur la beauté délicate de ses fleurs. Il peut être associé à des arbustes de printemps comme le Forsythia, qui prendra le relais floral au jardin.

L’Hamamélis appréciant les terres acides, on pourra le marier facilement avec des plants of heather soil à feuillage persistant et à floraison hivernale comme le Camellia, les Azaleas, les dwarf Rhododendrons, les Sarcococca ou les Daphnes. On peut aussi le planter en groupe de 3 ou 5, pour un effet de masse véritablement enchanteur.

Et pour un jardin coloré en hiver, pourquoi ne pas marier l’Hamamélis (‘Jelena’) avec le sublime Edgeworthia chrysantha (ou Paperbush), un ou plusieurs decorative fruit shrubs comme le Pommier d’ornement, quelques Cornus à bois colorés :

A very colourful winter garden

En bac ou en grand pot, il pourra être associé à un Houx, un conifère de rocaille ou un Fusain.

On habillera également le pied de l’arbuste de Bruyères d’hiver, d’Hellebores ou de bulbes pour accompagner le feuillage en automne et au printemps au moment où l’Hamamélis paraît dénudé, sa floraison étant terminée et ses jeunes feuilles pas encore apparues.

Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’, accompanied by Eranthis hyemalis, Galanthus nivalis and Helleborus orientalis – Dial Park – Photo Credit GAP Elke Borkowski