Winter/spring-blooming Asian witchhazels - Hamamelis xintermedia, H. japonica and H. mollis - exhibit potential in garden landscapes as focal points and in shrub borders.

Overview

Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witchhazel), H. japonica (Japanese witchhazel) and H. x intermedia (hybrids of Japanese and Chinese witchhazels) supply textures and flower colors to winter/early spring garden landscapes. Asian witchhazels grow well in plant hardiness zones 5 - 8, and depending upon zone, flower from January to the end of April.

Plant explorer Charles Maries sent seed of H. mollis from China to England in 1879, where a single plant grew from that batch. Later, E. H. Wilson also collected Chinese witchhazel. Philipp Franz von Siebold, German physician and naturalist, introduced H. japonica from plants he collected for sale in 1863.

H. x intermedia hybrids originally resulted from seedlings of spontaneous cross-breeding between the Chinese witchhazel (H. mollis) and Japanese witchhazel (H. japonica) at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum. Arboretum staff published descriptions of these first seedlings raised at the Arboretum in 1929. 'Arnold Promise' is the only one of these seedlings propagated and registered as a cultivar.

Recent introductions of H. xintermedia hybrids arrived on the horticulture scene from England, Germany and Belgium with the most from Kalmthout Arboretum, Antwerp, Belgium. The prime factors in hybrid selection are winter/spring flower color and fragrance, and autumn leaf color.

Garden Landscape Growth and Uses

Asian witchhazels, like their North American cousins H. vernalis and H. virginiana, are equally at home as focal point specimens or in borders in winter/early spring garden landscapes. Witchhazels are prime candidates for naturalizing in woodland situations. They grow and perform best in plant growing zones 5 to 8.

One problem that comes about when planning a natural / naturalized garden is whether to plant native American witchhazels H. vernalis and H. virginiana or the showier Asian species and cultivars. Asian witchhazels with larger, more colorful and sometimes fragrant flowers do fit into natural plant designs and overall, offer "more bang for the buck!"

Although flower color, fragrance, and leaf color are important, the delicate outlines and tracery of winter witchhazels are also attractive. During summer months, woody witchhazels visually recede into the background while other plants take center stage.

However, Witch Hazel (A Royal Horticultural Society Plant Collector's Guide) Timber Press, 2005 by Christopher Lane shows line drawings of six types of Hamamelis forms that need to be considered before placing the plant. The forms are:

• upright,
• vase-shaped,
• rounded bush,
• upright spreading,
• hortizontal spreading, and
• weeping.

In their native habitats, witchhazels grow best in the understory or at woodland edges. All witchhazels need a blend of filtered sun, dappled shade, and acidic, reasonably moist soil to grow well and show off their potential. Pruning, when needed, is best done after flowering but before summer so that flower buds for the following year have time to form.

Best of the Best

According to Anthony S. Aiello, Curator and Director of Horticulture at The Morris Arboretum (Philadelphia), there is confusion among nurseries about names and attributes of cultivated witchhazel types. Arboretum staff organize collection trips to ensure proper identification and growth of witchhazels destined for garden/landscape cultivation. The Arboretum maintains a large and significant witchhazel collection. There are approximately 30 types of witchhazels throughout the arboretum and another two dozen or so in their greenhouses.

Here are, according to Aiello and his staff, some of the best cultivated Asian witchhazel cultivars for garden landscapes:

H. x intermedia

• Sunburst’ - bright yellow flowers, yellow-orange fall color, vase-shaped;
• ‘Angelly’ – yellow flowers, orange fall color, upright-spreading;
• ‘Jelena’ - copper-orange flowers, orange fall color, shrub, wide-spread with age; and
• ‘Diane’ – red flowers, orange fall color, medium to large wide-spreading shrub.

H. mollis

• ‘Princeton Gold’ – golden yellow flowers, bright yellow, a vigorous rounded bush.

*Two well-known cultivars, H. mollis ‘Pallida’ and H. x intermedia 'Arnold Promise’, have recently been plagued by disease problems.

Sources

• Local nurseries or garden centers may have a selection of cultivars or be willing to order them from specialized nurseries; and
• Reputable online nurseries

More Information

1. Hamamelis - Spring Landscape Gold: H. vernalis blooms in spring with color and fragrance.
2. Hamamelis – Autumn Landscape Gold: H. virginiana brightens natural and native landscapes
3. Hamamelis – Landscape Aristocrats: Small trees and large shrubs bring gold to temperate landscapes.
4. Hamamelis – Landscape Design Uses: Witch hazels fill garden niches and extends landscape interest to four seasons.
5. Hamamelis – Best Landscape Sites: Optimum siting and microclimate for witch hazel plantings produce top performance.

© Text and photographs (unless otherwise noted) by Georgene A. Bramlage. 2008. Reproduction without permission prohibited.