“Some mornings it just doesn’t seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps.” – Emo Philips
“Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile I caught hell for.” – Earl Warren
PAUL’S PLANT PICK
February 2010
Archive Paul's Plant Pick
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis
It may not be the most beautiful shrub in the garden, but witch hazel does have its place and its moment. Its place is where it has plenty of room to grow but can be admired, whether close up or from afar. And its moment is now.
Witch hazel is the first plant to bloom in the garden, even beating hellebores to the punch. And its flowers are borne on bare stems, which makes their effect all the more dramatic. The flowers are either yellow or red, depending on the species, although I think the yellow ones stand out more.
Hardy to Zones 4 and 5, again depending on the species, witch hazel can get rather large, as in 10 to 30 feet. Some species are native, including H. vernalis and H. virginiana, while others are from Europe and Asia. There are also hybrids and numerous varieties.
Witch hazels adapt to a variety of soil types, including clay, and tolerate varying degrees of exposure, from nearly full shade to full sun. However, they definitely do best in good soil with at least six hours of sun, and will flower best under those conditions. They will also develop better fall color (yellow) when given plenty of sun.
If I could only plant one shrub, it wouldn’t be witch hazel. But for those of you with room for one, I would recommend that you give it a try. After all, seeing blooms on any plant when there’s snow on the ground is cool.
Witch Hazel Hamamelis
