HARBINGERS OF SPRING

Perhaps the most remarkable of the early blooming plants are the flowering witch-hazels. A welcome sight for winter-weary eyes, they bloom in midwinter, well before the vernal equinox, and extend their delicate and fragrant blooms for several months. Among the many unique features of the group are strap-shaped petals which unfurl in warm sunshine and recoil before nightfall, and the woody seed capsules that follow, which forcibly eject their black seeds to land several feet from the mother plant.

The witch part of its name is possibly derived from the Old English word, wych, which translates to “pliable,” an apt description of its wood. Another likely derivation is that its forked twigs and resemblance to hazel—a traditional choice for divining rods in the Old World—made it an obvious choice for American colonists looking to locate wells or “water witch.” The medicinal value of common witch-hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, includes early use as a liniment for aching muscles, sunburn, and poison ivy. The extract is made from the bark and leaves of young stems and shoots. Today, it can be found throughout the pharmacy, appearing in cosmetics, aftershave lotions, eyewashes, and soaps.

The PHA has a fine collection that Polly began by planting a Chinese witch-hazel, H. mollis, in 1960. Most recently, we have added new selections of this delightful shrub.  For those who seek more information on witch-hazels - we recommend the terrific new book, Witch Hazels by Chris Lane, available at the Arboretum visitor center.

Available at the PHA book store!

What follows is a description of four witch-hazel species and one hybrid. Look for them on your next visit to the Arboretum.

The Ozark or Vernal Witch-hazel – Hamamelis vernalis. Thriving on limestone outcroppings or highly alkaline soils, the vernal witch-hazel is restricted to the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. At the PHA, it blooms anywhere from February into late March with a remarkable display of reddish orange or occasionally yellow petals. It forms a large-sized shrub with a multi-stemmed habit, often displaying attractive orange-to-red fall color

.Hamamelis vernalis 'Red Imp' (Introduced by Dummer, 1966)

The Common Witch-hazel – Hamamelis virginiana. Although it does not bloom in spring, the common witch-hazel is worth growing for its ease of culture and its ability to prosper in full sun to dense shade, in either moist or dry soils. Its native range is extensive, occurring from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to eastern Minnesota and south Florida and eastern Texas. On the Vineyard it grows in moist woodlands. This unusual shrub blooms in late fall with the spidery yellow flowers often intermingled and difficult to discern from the attractive butter-yellow autumnal foliage.

Chinese Witch-hazel – Hamamelis mollis. Native to the mountainous regions of central China, this sweetly fragrant species has the showiest flowers of the group. However, it is the least hardy, and flower buds are susceptible to cold weather injury in harsh winters. It produces its best form when grown with intentional pruning as a small flowering tree. The fall color, which ranges from a golden yellow to a pumpkin orange, can be spectacular.

Hamamelis mollis

Japanese Witch-hazel – Hamamelis japonica. A shrub with a distinct architectural quality, this witch-hazel often grows into a wide-spreading, horizontal shape. Native to the mountains of Japan, its yellow flowers have a faint fragrance. The new foliage emerges with a bronze flush that matures to a bluish green. In fall, the foliage colors can range from yellow, to oranges and reds.

Arnold Promise Hybrid Witch-Hazel – Hamamelis x intermedia ‘ Arnold Promise’. The breathtaking sight of Arnold Promise witch-hazel against the backdrop of a clear blue sky is a promise that spring will soon arrive. At peak bloom, its large yellow flowers—with petals nearly an inch long—permeate the air with heady fragrance. One of the finest and most ornamental witch-hazels, this selection was discovered at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. It was determined to be a hybrid between Chinese and Japanese witch-hazel and given cultivar designation in 1963.

Hamamelis x intermedia selections for your garden

'Orange Beauty' (Introduced by van Ness, 1965)

'Carmine Red' (Introduced by Hillier Nurseries, Great Britain, 1934)

'Primavera' (Introduced by deBelder, 1969)

'Ruby Glow' (Introduced by de Belder, 1953)