Hamamelis mollis. Great Plant Picks photo.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane.’ Great Plant Picks photo.
Would you like more color in your garden? Now that the rain and clouds have returned, does your landscape seem empty and dull?
Consider planting a witch hazel. These beautiful large shrubs have leaves that turn bright colors in the fall. For example, the leaves of the classic witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis, turn butter yellow then orange and finally scarlet before they fall to the ground.
Many gardeners cherish witch hazel because they flower in the dead of winter, just when we need a spark of color in the garden. And most are fragrant.
Hamamemlis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise.’ Great Plant Picks photo.
Witch hazels are large shrubs. Most varieties grow to 8 feet or more. They are disease resistant and easy to grow.
Great Plant Picks recommends five witch hazel varieties: the three in this post as well as Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ and Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida.’
Witch hazels prefer rich, well-drained soil and full sun or light shade. They also prefer regular water during dry weather, but well-established plants will tolerate occasional watering.
Some pruning is needed to maintain their graceful vase-like form. Great Plant Picks recommends that beginning pruners consult an experienced pruner or take a pruning class before attempting to prune.
I have a yellow Chinese witch hazel, probably “pallida” that is doing quite well in full sun by my front walkway. It is fan shaped and getting size-able ( 6×6?). I would love it, were it not for the problem of hanging on to its dead leaves all winter and while blooming. Not terribly attractive. Is there any chance it will outgrow this habit, and start dropping its leaves in the fall, as it matures? I am not sure I can keep it on my front walk in given its ugly winter state, yet hate to give up on it, and am not sure I have another good location for it, in full sun and on irrigation. Any thoughts? Thanks!
I did a little research into your issue. It appears that some varieties of witch hazel retain their leaves more than others. Check out this chart: http://www.scottarboretum.org/publications/HamamelisReport.pdf. For the varieties that retain leaves, some people manage the issue by picking the leaves off by hand. This would be easier, of course, if your plant is not too large. One post suggested spraying the leaves off with a strong blast of water from your hose. That might be worth a try.