Hamamelis hybrids
Common Name(s):
- Description
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Witch hazel hybrids are deciduous shrubs in the Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel) family and are often cross between native and Asian plants. These hybrid shrubs can grow 12-20 feet tall and wide with multiple stems in an open form. The fragrant flowers are in various colors and appear in February to March for several weeks adding winter interest to the landscape. Most hybrids have fall colors in yellow to reds.
Witch Hazels prefer moist acidic well-drained organically rich soils in full sun to part shade but are considered to be adaptable. They will tolerate clay soils if it is well-drained. Use as a hedge, shrub border, specimen or in the woodland garden.
Prune this shrub in spring after it has bloomed and remove suckers as needed.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Caterpillars and Japanese beetles can eat the leaves. Gall aphids, weevils, scale, leafroller and leafminer. Potential diseases include powdery mildew, occasional leaf spots and rots.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hamamelis
- Species:
- hybrids
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Four parted septum dehiscent capsules.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers appear in clusters before leaf-out. They are spidery-looking with 4 strap-shaped petals that hang down in colors of red, orange and yellows. They appear in Feb. to March
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Somewhat rounded, acuminate tip, a downy, gray-green in summer. Alternate, simple, 2-4" long, wedge-shaped, dark green above, pale green and pubescent below, ovate to obovate, 5-8 vein pairs, serrated on top half, base oblique. Fall color can be reds to yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Bark is smooth and gray to gray-brown
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender, gray-brown, smooth, some reddish lenticels. Leaf bud is naked, looks like a small, folded leaf. Flower bud is stalked, clustered and round.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Understory Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
