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Winning in Winter

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As winter winds down, witch hazel is the shrub to watch.

It is unusual because of the timing of its bloom and the way blooms appear on the bare branches. The perfumed blossoms look a little like uncombed blonde or red hair. The petals are narrow like ribbons. These shrubs grow in sun or dappled shade and can grow 12-20 feet tall. Hamamelis is the name of the genus.

Some species bloom in the fall and some in late winter. The Ozark witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis blooms in late winter and has bicolor, yellow, and orange flowers and grows only 6-8 feet.

Witch hazel ‘Jelena’ has orange fall foliage and orange flowers from winter into spring. It is hardy to zone 6 and is often referred to as copper witch hazel since the color distinguishes it from every other shrub typically seen in gardens.

Hamamelis virginiana grows 10-20 feet and is native to the eastern US and likes shade. It has yellow leaves and yellow blooms in the fall.

Hamamelis intermedia ‘Diane’ is the red-flowered witch hazel, 8-12 feet tall, with vivid red flowers in the winter. It likes shade, and like all witch hazels is deer resistant and hardy to zone 6, so works well in the Lower Midwest. If you know a gardener named Diane, this witch hazel would make a perfect gift.

This is Moya Andrews, and today we focused on winning in winter.

 

Witch Hazel

(schulcircus, Pixabay)

As winter winds down, witch hazel is the shrub to watch.

It is unusual because of the timing of its bloom and the way blooms appear on the bare branches. The perfumed blossoms look a little like uncombed blonde or red hair. The petals are narrow like ribbons. These shrubs grow in sun or dappled shade and can grow 12-20 feet tall. Hamamelis is the name of the genus.

Some species bloom in the fall and some in late winter. The Ozark witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis blooms in late winter and has bicolor, yellow, and orange flowers and grows only 6-8 feet.

Witch hazel ‘Jelena’ has orange fall foliage and orange flowers from winter into spring. It is hardy to zone 6 and is often referred to as copper witch hazel since the color distinguishes it from every other shrub typically seen in gardens.

Hamamelis virginiana grows 10-20 feet and is native to the eastern US and likes shade. It has yellow leaves and yellow blooms in the fall.

Hamamelis intermedia ‘Diane’ is the red-flowered witch hazel, 8-12 feet tall, with vivid red flowers in the winter. It likes shade, and like all witch hazels is deer resistant and hardy to zone 6, so works well in the Lower Midwest. If you know a gardener named Diane, this witch hazel would make a perfect gift.

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