how do you grow chinese witch hazel

Witch Hazel Care

Full Answer

How do you look after Chinese witch hazel?

Grow in a sheltered area in sun or light dappled shade. South to south-west facing is ideal. Loropetalum prefers a slightly acidic, humus-rich soil that retains moisture so add ericaceous compost to the planting hole or grow in a container. Keep well-watered.

Can Chinese witch hazel be grown in pots?

You can plant container grown witch hazels at any time, but if they are planted during spring and summer they will need regular, careful watering to keep the soil moist. Most witch hazel cultivars are grafted onto Hamamelis virginiana rootstock.

Is witch hazel a shrub or tree?

Witch hazels are small trees/shrubs that grow 10 to 20 feet high and, sometimes, nearly as wide.

Where should I plant my witch hazel?

Witch hazels perform best in full sun (or filtered shade in hotter regions), where the flowers glow like fiery embers in the backlight of the low winter sun. They prefer well-amended soil and regular water and are tolerant of acid or alkaline conditions.

What is the best time to plant witch hazel?

For plants purchased in pots or containers, you can plant in other seasons than fall as long as both hot and cold spells are avoided. Witch-hazel loves the sun, especially in winter, but it abominates it if it is scorching hot in summer. Light shade in the afternoon in summer is ideal for this tree.

When should I prune my witch hazel?

Vernal or Spring Flowering Witch Hazel should be pruned in spring after flowers bud but, before they leaf out. Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be removed back to a main branch. Autumnal, Common or Fall Flowering Witch Hazel should be pruned in early spring before the plant leafs out.

What month does witch hazel bloom?

Native to the woodland understory of the eastern United States, the common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8. Its spice-scented yellow flowers begin blooming in October and November, and some cultivars bloom into March.

Is witch hazel toxic to dogs?

Though witch hazel carries many beneficial effects when applied topically, it's important to know that it can be toxic to dogs.

How quickly does witch hazel grow?

This shrub grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.

What does witch hazel look like in the summer?

Witch hazel plants have exceptional fragrance, though the flowers are not as showy as some other plants. Bright green leaves adorn these shrubs in the summer and turn yellow or yellow-orange in the fall.

How much space does witch hazel need?

about 10 to 12 feet apartWitch hazels need to be about 10 to 12 feet apart. They also need well-drained, moist, and slightly acidic soil.

Does witch hazel have deep roots?

With their shallow, slow-growing root systems, it's best you have plenty of room. Being shade tolerant, witch hazel is often used for naturalizing wooded areas, but these plants actually perform best in full sun (or, filtered shade in hot zones) and develop brighter fall foliage when planted in the open.

What soil does Chinese witch hazel like?

Witch hazels need good drainage. Choose a spot in full sun or partial shade and make sure the soil is well-drained. Although the advice is that witch hazels do best in a slightly acidic soil, they don't need fully ericaceous compost and can cope with neutral soil, as long as you add plenty of organic matter.

Does witch hazel like sun or shade?

Being shade tolerant, witch hazel is often used for naturalizing wooded areas, but these plants actually perform best in full sun (or, filtered shade in hot zones) and develop brighter fall foliage when planted in the open.

Does witch hazel have deep roots?

Witch hazels have shallow, slow-growing root systems, which do best in large planting areas to ensure normal growth and development.

Can witch hazel be grown indoors?

Witch hazel seeds can take up to two years before they germinate. To get seeds started, they must experience the heat and cold of both winter and summer. You can plant these outdoors or mimic these conditions indoors.

What is the best soil for witch hazel?

Adding compost to the soil not only balances the moisture retention and draining ability but also adds loads of nutrients to the soil, resulting in rich, loamy soil that is ideal for witch hazel. Throughout the summer months, well-balanced, liquid fertilizer can be added monthly for extra nutrients.

How long does it take for witch hazel to germinate?

Witch hazel is often propagated from seed, but this process requires a lot of patience. Witch hazel seeds can take up to two years before they germinate. To get seeds started, they must experience the heat and cold of both winter and summer. You can plant these outdoors or mimic these conditions indoors.

Does witch hazel flower in cold weather?

Witch hazel is unique in that it flowers during the cold winter months. It is tolerant of a wide range of conditions from USDA zones 3 to 9, thriving in both cold and hot temperatures. Moderate humidity levels are preferred. Witch hazel does not do well in dry, arid conditions, but too much moisture can encourage fungal problems, such as powdery mildew .

Can witch hazel be attacked?

These shrubs are resistant to most pests and diseases. Deer, aphids, leaf spots, or powdery mildew may attack witch hazel shrubs, but they do not normally cause extensive damage.

Can witch hazel be kept in the winter?

With its unique winter flowers, witch hazel thrives in the cold winter months. To care for witch hazel throughout the winter, occasionally check the plant for any damage caused by rabbits or deer. If damage occurs, a protective barrier can be placed around the plant, such as chicken wire or hardware cloth.

Is witch hazel hardy?

Witch hazel is a very hardy plant. Unlike most flowering plants, witch hazel requires cold temperatures to produce its eye-catching yellow blooms. This makes these plants a real show-stopper in a sparkling winter landscape. Witch hazel plants have exceptional fragrance, though the flowers are not as showy as some other plants.

Do witch hazels need water?

Regular watering is essential for young, establishing plants. Once established, natural rainfall should provide enough water for witch hazel shrubs. However, be sure to water these plants any time there is a drought. If the top of the soil feels dry to the touch, it may be time for additional water.

What is a witch hazel?

Witch hazels, Hamamelis, are popular plants for the winter garden. Forming large shrubs or small trees, they come into their own in late winter and early spring, when scented, flame-coloured, ribbon-like flowers appear on bare branches. Some cultivars also have good autumn leaf colour, and their stems are lovely to bring indoors for ...

Can witch hazel be grown indoors?

Some cultivars also have good autumn leaf colour, and their stems are lovely to bring indoors for a cut flower display. Although they have a reputation for being tricky to grow, if you get the soil conditions right , they can thrive. Browse our practical guide to growing witch hazel, below.

Do witch hazels need ericaceous compost?

Although the advice is that witch hazels do best in a slightly acidic soil, they don’t need fully ericaceous compost and can cope with neutral soil, as long as you add plenty of organic matter.

Can witch hazels be propagated?

Witch hazels are not easy to propagate, but if you want a challenge, the formal method is to take softwood cuttings in spring. Then, try to root them in free draining compost in a heated propagator.

How to keep witch hazels smaller?

While most varieties reach 10-20 feet high and wide at maturity, witch hazels can be kept smaller with pruning once they are finished blooming. Prune before summer so that the following year’s buds can develop. Suckering twigs that form around the base should be removed.

When does witch hazel bloom?

Bloom time: January to March. The most fragrant of all species, Chinese varieties begins blooming as early as January and has buttery yellow petals and clear yellow fall foliage. Hybrids of Japanese witch hazel (H. japonica) and Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis), which bloom from mid-late winter, were bred for enhanced qualities of flowers ...

What zone is Witch Hazel?

Native forms are hardier, while most hybrid cultivars grow in USDA Zones 5-8. A more heat tolerant variety, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane', can be grown in Zones 5-9. Once established, they are virtually maintenance-free and resistant to most pests and diseases. Witch hazel extract is commonly used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.

How big is a hamamelis?

Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Birgit'. Maximum size is 12 feet wide by 15 feet high. Dark red flowers are smaller than those of other witch hazel varieties and emit a mild fragrance.

What is the best all around cultivar of Hamamelis?

Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Jelena', widely regarded as one of the best all-around cultivars, has a perfect vase-shaped structure, intensely-fragrant orange flowers and fiery fall color.

What is the color of the foliage on Hamamelis?

Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Diane' is the standard of red-flowered varieties, with vibrant fall foliage of red, orange, purple and yellow. 'Diane' is more heat tolerant than other varieties and can be grown in Zones 5-9.

What are some plants that can be naturalized around the base of a tree?

Companion plants such as hellebores, winter heath, and bulbs of hardy cyclamen and snowdrop can be naturalized around the base. To extend seasonal interest into summer, smaller forms of clematis such as C. viticella are attractive when trained through the branches.

How tall can witch hazel grow?

An open site will also accommodate the common witch hazel species (H. virginiana) which can grow up to 25 feet in height, or the smaller vernal witch hazel ( H. vernalis), which can reach 10 feet when fully mature.

How much water does witch hazel need?

Even with the best care, witch hazel will only grow 6 to 12 inches per year.

Why is witch hazel called winter bloom?

In North America, witch hazel is also called winterbloom because its light gray bark and bright yellow flower petals offer vivid bursts of color against a drab or snowy backdrop in late fall or winter . In addition to its stunning color, witch hazel blossoms release a lovely fragrance that floats through wooded landscapes from Canada to Georgia.

How long does it take for a witch hazel seed to germinate?

It can take up to 2 years and a lot of patience for a witch hazel seed to germinate. The process for container growth or propagation from cuttings is extremely detailed for each stage of the plant’s growing cycle. A better option is to transplant a wild witch hazel found in ravines or wooded areas to your yard or purchase a dormant, bare-rooted witch hazel plant from a nursery.

What is witch hazel used for?

You are likely familiar with pharmaceutical-grade witch hazel, which is used to treat insect bites, minor burns, acne, and other skin irritations. This medicinal extract is distilled from the dormant twigs, bark, and dried leaves of the witch hazel plant.

What zone is witch hazel in?

Consider witch hazel if you desire a shrub that is virtually maintenance-free, resistant to disease and pest infestation, and one that grows well in USDA Zones 5-9, then witch hazel is a great choice.

Where does witch hazel come from?

Two witch hazel species are native to Japan and China ( H. mollis and H. japonica), and 3 originate in North America – of which the most popular are the common witch hazel ( H. virginiana) and vernal witch hazel ( H. vernalis). Choose common witch hazel for the brightest yellow blooms in late fall and early winter. The smaller, vernal witch hazel flowers in late winter/early spring.

Where is Witch Hazel native to?

Despite being native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas, this member of the witch hazel family ( Hamamelidaceae) does quite well in Florida for those in zones 8–10a.

How big does a sizzlin pink plant get?

'Sizzlin' Pink' has deep burgundy new growth that matures to lovely purple foliage. This pink-flowered cultivar grows to 4 to 6 feet tall and spreads 4 to 5 feet across.

How tall does Plum Delight grow?

This cultivar has a mature height and spread of 6 to 8 feet.

How to get a root ball out of a pot?

Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the diameter and slightly shallower than the size of the root ball. Tease out circling roots or slash the root ball in several places if potbound. Place in the planting hole so the top of the root ball is level or slightly above the surrounding soil.

What are the characteristics of a tassel flower?

Flower color and characteristics: Tassel-like flowers with strappy, ribbon-like petals occur in prolific clusters up and down the branches. Bloom is heaviest in spring, with smaller, sporadic re-bloom at different times of the year. Flowers are lightly fragrant. Tiny, capsule-like fruits are insignificant.

What is a Chinese fringe flower?

Chinese fringe flower ( Loropetalum chinense ), is an often-overlooked shrub for warmer climates. This witch hazel relative has softly crinkled evergreen foliage and profuse clusters of lightly scented, spidery flowers similar to its winter-blooming cousin. Many varieties have deep purple or burgundy leaves, a unique trait not typically seen in ...

How to use Loropetalum?

There are many ways to incorporate loropetalum into your landscape. Here’s how: Use a larger variety as a dramatic backdrop in a mixed border, along a wall or fence. For a unique look, train a small-medium sized loropetalum into an espalier along a trellis or fence.

How to train a large upright tree into a small tree?

A larger upright specimen can be trained into a small tree by removing the side branches from one or more of the main trunks as it grows.

Where to grow weeping form?

Grow a weeping form along the top of a low rock wall or on a slope to complement an Asian-style landscape.

Do purple pixies need pruning?

Mass along a slope for erosion control, or add a colorful foliage accent to a container, hanging basket or window box. Due to its compact size , ‘Purple Pixie’ needs little or no pruning.

How tall are witch hazels?

The witch-hazels are deciduous shrubs or (rarely) small trees growing to 3.0–7.6 metres (10–25 ft) tall, rarely to 12 m (40 ft) tall. The leaves are alternately arranged, oval, 5.1–15.2 cm (2–6 in) long and 2.5–10.2 cm (1–4 in) broad, with a smooth or wavy margin. The genus name, Hamamelis, means "together with fruit", referring to the simultaneous occurrence of flowers with the maturing fruit from the previous year. H. virginiana blooms in September–November while the other species bloom from January–March. Each flower has four slender strap-shaped petals 0.95–1.91 centimetres ( 3⁄8 – 3⁄4 in) long, pale to dark yellow, orange, or red. The fruit is a two-part capsule 0.95 centimetres ( 3⁄8 in) long, containing a single 0.64 centimetres ( 1⁄4 in) glossy black seed in each of the two parts; the capsule splits explosively at maturity in the autumn about 8 months after flowering, ejecting the seeds with sufficient force to fly for distances of up to 9.1 m (30 ft), thus another alternative name "snapping hazel".

Who invented witch hazel?

A missionary, Dr. Charles Hawes, adopted the process of steam distillation of witch-hazel twigs, creating a "Hawes Extract" product sold in Essex, Connecticut in 1846, by druggist and chemist, Alvan Whittemore. Hawes' process was further refined by Thomas Newton Dickinson, Sr., who is credited with starting the commercial production of witch-hazel extract, also in Essex, Connecticut, in 1866, and eventually establishing nine production sites in eastern Connecticut during the 20th century. Following his death, his two sons, Thomas N. Dickinson, Jr., of Mystic, Connecticut, and Everett E. Dickinson of Essex, each inherited parts of the family business and continued the manufacture of witch-hazel extract, operating competing "Dickinson's" businesses that were continued by their descendants until 1997 when the manufacturing operations from both companies were consolidated at the American Distilling plant in East Hampton, CT.

What is the genus of witch hazels?

Genus: Hamamelis. Gronov. ex L. Type species. Hamamelis virginiana. L. Witch-hazels or witch hazels ( Hamamelis) are a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae, with three species in North America ( H. ovalis, H. virginiana, and H. vernalis ), and one each in Japan ( H. japonica) and China ( H. mollis ).

What is hamamelis water?

Hamamelis water, also called white hazel or witch hazel water prepared from a steam-distillation process using leaves, bark or twigs, is a clear, colorless liquid containing 13–15% ethanol having the odor of the essential oil, but with no tannins present . Essential oil components, such as carvacrol and eugenol, may be present.

What are the phytochemicals in witch hazel?

Phytochemicals and hamamelis water. The main phytochemicals in witch-hazel leaves are polyphenols, including 3–10% tannins, flavonoids, and up to 0.5% essential oil, while the bark has a higher tannin content.

What is the meaning of "wych hazel"?

Jacob George Strutt 's 1822 book, Sylva Britannica attests that "Wych Hazel" was used in England as a synonym for wych elm, Ulmus glabra ; The use of the twigs as divining rods, just as hazel twigs were used in England, may also have, by folk etymology, influenced the "witch" part of the name.

Where did the name Witch come from?

The name witch in witch-hazel has its origins in Middle English wiche, from the Old English wice, meaning "pliant" or "bendable", and is not related to the word witch meaning a practitioner of magic. Jacob George Strutt 's 1822 book, Sylva Britannica attests that "Wych Hazel" was used in England as a synonym for wych elm, Ulmus glabra; The use of the twigs as divining rods, just as hazel twigs were used in England, may also have, by folk etymology, influenced the "witch" part of the name.