Hamamelis – Landscape Aristocrats
Small trees and large shrubs bring gold to temperate landscapes.
Hamamelis (witch hazel) species and varieties bring interesting forms, flower and leaf gold to temperate landscapes when gardeners least expect color and fragrance.
Hamamelis (witch hazel) species and varieties are small trees and large shrubs that bring flower and leaf gold to temperate landscapes when gardeners least expect color and fragrance. Their diversity of bloom times and leaf colors, mature shapes, ease of maintenance and lack of serious disease and insect pests provide an extensive woody plant collection that can strengthen landscape designs. Extending landscape interest to four seasons with plants such as Hamamelis can only reinforce a design.
While it is tempting to choose Hamamelis varieties for flower color and bloom time, it is more valuable to decide initially on suitable mature shapes and winter silhouettes. Wide-ranging choices leave room for flexibility in a landscape design. Studying descriptions carefully before planning and planting pays off. Here are six types in a format thought out by staff at the Kalmthout Arboretum. The examples come from a collection of sources including this author's personal observation.
- Upright – H. virginiana – 20 to 30' tall, 20 to 25' wide, may be smaller in residential situations and can be shaped as a tree or shrub; H. x hybrida cultivars such as 'Allgold' and 'Moonlight';
- Vase shaped – H. x hybrida 'Arnold Promise';
- Oval or Rounded (usually multistemmed) – H. vernalis – 6 to 20' tall, larger in width; H. mollis – 10 to 15' tall and wide, may become taller;
- Spreading – H. x hybrida cultivars such as 'Carmine Red' and 'Hiltinbury';
- Horizontal spreading (with an almost flat top) – H. japonica – 10 to 15' tall, may be shaped as a tree or shrub;
- Weeping – H. vernalis 'Lombart's Weeping,' also has blue-green foliage and red flowers.
In landscape settings with a large garden in areas like parks or commercial locations, Hamamelis should be allowed to grow to maximum maturity and size. The only pruning needed in these situations is to remove dead or diseased wood. However, all but 'Lombart's Weeping' can be modified to fit into small settings with an annual pruning routine. Kalmthout Arboretum staff suggest pruning, during winter months, the previous summer's growth on each branch back to two growth buds from the plant's base.
Flower colors of individual witch hazel species and varieties vary from:
- Primrose yellows - H. x hybrida 'Arnold Promise';
- Through brilliant coppers - H. x hybrida 'Jelena';
- Into dazzling reds - H. x hybrida 'Diana'.
Flowers appear, depending upon individual plant characteristics and microclimate, anywhere from:
- January to late March in the forefront of the gardening year – sometimes called "winter flowersing" - H. x intermedia, H. japonica, H. mollis and H. vernalis;
- To mid-October or November in the closing part of the year – sometimes called the last of the year - H. virginiana.
Leaves, usually medium to dark green in summer months, become light yellow or yellow-orange in autumn; varieties with red flowers are likely to display red and purple colors along with yellow and orange colors.
Forest Farm, Ornamental and Useful Plants from Around the World is a online source with thousands of pictures and helpful information. However, the scientific names on the site and in Forest Farm's print catalog do not always agree with those of academic horticulturists
You might enjoy reading my other articles about using Hamamelis species and varieties in the landscape:
- Hamamelis – Autumn Landscape Gold
- Hamamelis – Spring Landscape Gold
- Hamamelis - Best Landscape Sites
- Hamamelis - Landscape Design Uses
And, in addition, Angela England's two articles in the Plants and Bulbs Suite101 topic about richly colored autumn plants:
- Using Plants for Winter Interest: An Introduction to Creating a Year Round Garden
- Beautiful Flowers Even in Winter: Plants for Blooms in the Winter Landscape
©Text and photograph by Georgene A. Bramlage, November 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
