Download Witch Hazels and Relatives

Witch Hazels and Relatives
Witch hazels (Hamamelis species) grow as large shrubs or small, spreading trees. Their close cousins,
winter hazels (Corylopsis) and witch alders (Fothergilla), are somewhat smaller shrubs. Witch hazel and
winter hazel are mainstays of the late-winter garden for their bright and fragrant blooms. Most witch hazels
will bloom January through March in the Seattle area. Witch hazel flowers are spidery, almost like mini
fireworks. Their fragrance is often described as spicy. Depending on the cultivar, flower colors range from
pale to bright yellow, orange, or even red. Winter hazel flowers are sweet-scented and pendant, looking like
inch-long little yellow lanterns. In the Seattle area, winter hazels typically bloom February through April.
Fothergilla blooms the latest, usually April/May; its bottlebrush flower spikes are white and honey-scented.
Witch hazels, winter hazels, and witch alders sport interestingly-textured foliage whose fall color is often
spectacular. Leaves are large and serrated, with heavily-indented veins that can give almost a corrugated
texture. Fall foliage color ranges from pleasant straw yellow to stunning multicolored displays with
individual leaves sporting either veins or concentric bands of green, yellow, amber, and/or crimson.
These plants are all very cold-hardy (to -10°F) and require little care. Witch hazels and witch alders like full
sun but will tolerate partial shade; winter hazels prefer light to dappled shade. All appreciate regular
watering in our summer droughts, and like good garden soil rich in organic matter. They do not require
regular pruning, and they suffer from few pests.
The Great Plant Picks Program is a list of plants especially recommended for maritime Northwest gardens
because of their ease of care and good performance. Their “Plants that make Scents” list includes most of
the plants below, as indicated.
Hybrid Witch Hazels (Hamamelis x intermedia) carried by Sky:
The most common witch hazel cultivars are hybrids called Hamamelis x intermedia. These hybrids are more
typically shrub like rather than tree like. Their flowers come in a wide range of colors: yellow, copper,
orange, or red. The hybrids also offer a large range of autumn foliage colors.
Arnold’s Promise. Large shrub to small tree, covered in fragrant deep yellow blooms in late winter. Fall
colors gold, orange and red. Height 10-15’, width 10-15’. A Great Plant Pick.
Diane. Vaselike shrub with coppery red flowers. Light sweet scent. Best fall color of all witch hazels— fiery
reds and oranges. Height 14-20’, width 10-15’. A Great Plant Pick.
Jelena. Large shrub to small tree. Fragrant coppery orange flowers. Summer foliage is lush, dark green,
changing to vibrant red and orange in fall. Height 15-20’, width 10-15’. A Great Plant Pick.
Primavera. Blooms a little later than many varieties (February-March). Fragrant blooms are bright yellow.
Yellow to orange fall color. Height 12-15’, width 12-15’.
Sky Nursery • 18528 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline, WA 98133 skynursery.com (206)-546-4851 • Rev. 10/12/15
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witch hazel, winter hazel, and witch alder varieties
Sunburst. Lightly fragrant flowers are buttercream yellow. Height 9-12’, width 6-8’.
Westerstede. Scented sulfur-yellow flowers. Bright yellow fall color. Height 15-20’, width 15-20’.
Species witch hazels:
Hamamelis mollis, the Chinese witch hazel, has fragrant yellow blooms with red-brown sepals. It grows as
a large shrub to smallish tree. Many consider it to have the best fragrance of the witch hazels. ‘Pallida’ is a
slow-growing variety with fragrant pale yellow flowers and golden yellow fall color. Height and width are
10-15’. A Great Plant Pick.
Hamamelis vernalis, the Ozark witch hazel, has fragrant small yellow, orange, or red blooms, usually
appearing a little later than other witch hazels. H. vernalis typically grows as a multistemmed, suckering
shrub reaching 6-10 feet tall. Fall color is usually a bright yellow.
Winter Hazels:
Buttercup Winter Hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora) has pale buttery yellow flowers. Its foliage is bright
green (tinted bronze when young), typically turning pale yellow in fall. It generally grows to about 6’ tall by
8’ wide. A Great Plant Pick.
Spike Winter Hazel (Corylopsis spicata) has primrose flowers with red anthers. Summer foliage is bluegreen, turning straw yellow in fall. It generally grows to about 4-5’ tall by 5-8’ wide. A Great Plant Pick.
Goldleaf Spike Winter Hazel (Corylopsis spicata aurea) has the same flowers, but its foliage emerges acid
yellow blushed red, maturing to canary yellow (in more sun) or chartreuse (in shade). Fall color is yellow to
orange.
Witch Alders:
Mount Airy Fothergilla (Fothergilla major ‘Mount Airy’) has deep blue-green foliage and spectacular fall
color. Leaves change color in bands of yellow, crimson, orange, even purple. Its scented white bottlebrush
flowers appear before the leaves. It grows slowly to about 5-6’ tall wand wide, and has a nice rounded form.
A Great Plant Pick.
Sky Nursery • 18528 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline, WA 98133 skynursery.com (206)-546-4851 • Rev. 10/12/15
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