Hamamelis vernalis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hamamelis vernalis var. tomentella
- Phonetic Spelling
- ham-ah-MAY-lis ver-NAH-lis
- Description
-
Ozark witch hazel is a deciduous shrub in the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae) native to the Ozark Plateau in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The Latin specific epithet vernalis means "spring-flowering".
It is a tough, durable plant that is easy to grow in both sun and partial shade but flowers best in full sun. It tolerates clay soils as long as the drainage is good. Although it is drought-tolerant, it does best with consistent moisture and may suffer from leaf scorch in hot, dry summers. It spreads by root suckers, which should be pruned to restrain colonization. Keep in mind that flowers will appear on old growth when pruning. It will grow 6 to 16 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide.
Blooming begins in mid tolate winter into early spring with clusters of fragrant red, occasionally yellow, flowers with four ribbon-like petals
Ozark witch hazel adds winter interest to the garden, flowering from January to early March in a variety of colors from yellow to reddish-purple with petals resembling twisted ribbons.
Potential problems: Caterpillars, Japanese beetles, leaf gall aphids, weevils, scale, leafroller, leafminer. powdery mildew, occasional leaf spots, and rots.
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers in axillary clusters, 4 ligulate petals
- Deciduous shrub to small tree with zig-zag twigs
- Leaf buds and young twigs tomentose
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Autumn Embers'
Copper-red flowers - 'Carnea'
Pink flowers - 'Quasimodo'
Burnt orange flowers - 'Red Imp'
Red petals with orange tips - 'Squib'
Vivid yellow flowers - 'Washington Park'
Reddish-purple flowers
- 'Autumn Embers'
- 'Autumn Embers', 'Carnea', 'Quasimodo', 'Red Imp', 'Squib', 'Washington Park'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Autumn Embers'
Copper-red flowers - 'Carnea'
Pink flowers - 'Quasimodo'
Burnt orange flowers - 'Red Imp'
Red petals with orange tips - 'Squib'
Vivid yellow flowers - 'Washington Park'
Reddish-purple flowers
- 'Autumn Embers'
- 'Autumn Embers', 'Carnea', 'Quasimodo', 'Red Imp', 'Squib', 'Washington Park'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hamamelis
- Species:
- vernalis
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans are known to have boiled twigs to create soothing medications for wounds, muscle soreness, insect bites, bruises, and burns.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern and Central US (Ozark Plateau)
- Distribution:
- Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
- Pieces Used in Games
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A non-showy two-valved dehiscent capsule that splits to forcefully expel two seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A cyme in leaf axils. Yellow, four strap-like crumpled petals.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, ovate to obovate, toothed, base oblique, Margins shallowly lobed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Young stems zig-zag, pubescent; older glabrous, smooth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
