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The author, sticking her nose in it
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By mid-February, one can begin to see the outer space-like /sea creatureish flowers of the Witchhazel begin to emerge. It’s always fun and beneficial to your nose to witness this event, which signals that winter is almost over (hoorah). February 17th I was on my first bike ride of the year in shorts and t-shirt (that’s St. Louis for you) when I spotted a Witchhazel starting to bloom in a median on Wydown. Of course, I had to stick my nose in it! I find the fragrance splendid.
I tend to gravitate towards loving shrubs more than any other plant. Witchhazels are top on my list. First of all they have this crazy name and then to be even crazier, it blooms in February (ha). I put them in my design plans frequently, not only because of their beauty and fragrance, but they are extremely hardy.
The botanical genus name for this wonderful plant is Hamamelis. Which I tend to call it a lot, because it makes your mouth feel good saying it. I have found four popular species around St. Louis. They are virginiana, mollis, vernalis and intermedia.
Then to makes things even more interesting, plant breeders cross-pollinate and make cultivars.The horticulture industry tends to give these plants snazzy names to make them appealing to gardeners hungry for new and exciting plants.
Last year on February 25, I went to the Missouri Botanical Garden and took a picture of every Hamamelis I could find blooming. Here is a list of just some of the cultivars I came across: ‘Dianne’, ‘Fire Blaze’, ‘Firecracker’, ‘Orange Beauty’, ‘Bernstein’, ‘Fire Charm’, ‘Georges’, ‘Harlow Carr’, ‘Primavera’, ‘Rochester’, ‘Westerstede’, ‘Pallida’, ‘Wisley Supreme’, ‘Gold Edge’, ‘Fred Chittenden’, ‘Gold Edge’ ‘Danny’, ‘Jelena’, ‘Arnold’s Promise’, and ‘Old Copper’.
I usually know I’m dealing with a serious plant lover if they have a Witchhazel in their yard. They work well in groupings, or as that special specimen, focal point plant. It’s one of the plants I consider to have multiple values because of it’s pleasant branching structure in the winter and amazing bright vibrant fall color. So get your sniffers out there hunting for Witchhazels.
And here is what to look for, and when to look for it:
Hamamelis mollis ‘Wisley Supreme’ – February 25
Hamamelis x intermedia Firecracker' – February 25
Hamamelis intermedia ‘Sunburst’ – February 25
Hamamelis ‘Rochester’– February 25
Hamamelis intermedia ‘Primavera’ – February 25
Hamamelis vernalis – March 3
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' – June 6 (5 gal. container when you buy it at the nursery)
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Orange Beauty' – September 3
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Orange Beauty' close up – September 3
Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’ – November 2
Hamamelis virginiana (native to MIssouri) – November 4
Beth Gellman is an EarthDance Farm Alumn and a landscape designer specializing in edible food gardens and community gardens.
