Wake Up Winter with Witch Hazels

These stalwart shrubs are just the ticket for infusing the garden with color at an otherwise drab time of year

During the wintertime month in the Pacific Northwest , it is hard to know if it will be sunny and smart , rain down cats and bounder , or a snow-white winter wonderland when we step outside . One matter is certain , though — there will be witch hazel tree ( Hamamelisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) in flower . Bright colors against gray sky , an important early food for bees , and gentle fragrance on frigid air current — these shrubs provide delightful , long - lasting flower at a time of year when many other plant are dormant .

Many hoi polloi do not realize the multifariousness useable in this group of industrial plant . wintertime is a great time to visit a local glasshouse to pick from the all-inclusive mix of Wiccan hazelnut that offer unlike bloom people of colour and perfume as well as a diversity of forms for garden fully grown and belittled . During a late sojourn , I not only saw easy - to - get intercrossed beldame hazel ( H.×intermediacvs . , Zones 5–9 ) favorites like ‘ Jelena ’ ( orange ) , ‘ Arnold ’s hope ’ ( yellow ) , and ‘ Diane ’ ( red ) , but I also found unusual varieties such as ‘ Birgit ’ ( purple - red ) , ‘ Strawberries and Cream ’ ( pale yellowish and ruby-red ) , ‘ Angelly ’ ( yellow ) , and ‘ Sunburst ’ ( yellowish ) flowering amid all the snow - tamp down displays at my local nursery .

Nearly all beldam hazels rosiness in wintertime ( January to March ) , before the leave-taking total out — with the elision of usual enchantress hazel ( H. virginiana , Zones 3–8 ) , which blooms in fall ( October to December ) . They also have a second season of interestingness , boast fabulous gloam color , and are loosely easy - to - grow in full sun to fond shade and moist well - drained soil . For best performance , cut back off occasional suckers , especially suckers below the graft on grafted option .

The next time you are looking to add some winter colour to your garden , give the following witch hazels some serious circumstance .

‘Birgit’ witch hazel

( H.×intermedia‘Birgit ’ , Zones 5–8)Size:8 to 12 base tall and 12 to 15 foundation panoptic

‘ Birgit ’ typically blossom in February in my garden . Perhaps the darkest red of the cultivars available today , this selection is a standout with mildly fragrant , showy , purplish red flowers on upright - spreading branches . Each prime has four minute , ribbon - same , coil , and slightly crinkled petals . Axillary clusters of these heyday bloom along the stem from recent January to March . During the grow season , ‘ Birgit ’ has fabulous textured dark unripened leaf ( to 4 inches long ) that turn over icteric - orange - redness in fall .

‘Little Suzie’ common witch hazel

( H. virginiana‘Little Suzie ’ , Zones 3–8)Size:4 to 5 human foot tall and wide

A selection of the eastern native species , common witch hazelnut , ‘ Little Suzie ’ is a great more - compact shrub for modest garden . It flowers at an early age with branches that are densely covered with fragrant soft chickenhearted flowers . The gloaming blooms typically open in December here in the Pacific Northwest , preceded by lovely butter - yellow fall leaves .

Chinese witch hazel

( H. mollis , Zones 5–9)Size:10 to 15 feet marvellous and wide

When you may not get to the nursery , you may always spend some quality time on the internet . Just plant from my postal service - order delivery is Formosan Wiccan hazel . It is one of the most fragrant of all hag hazels and one of the first collected in China in 1879 . The flowers are yellow with scarlet dark-brown calyx cup ; they open in January to March . This enchantress hazel tree also pitch with icteric fall color . My plant is pretty small at this level ( only 1 congius ) , but I have it placed where it can really uprise and where it will eventually glow in all its glorification .

‘Purpurea’ vernal witch hazel

( H. vernalis‘Purpurea ’ , Zones 4–8)Size:6 to 10 feet marvelous and 8 to 12 feet all-inclusive

Another slimly minor beldam hazelnut tree that is capital for those limited on garden space , ‘ Purpurea ’ youthful witch hazelnut tree provides lovely burgundy blooms in winter ( January to March ) . While my specimen is still growing from a 2 - gallon origin lump , it is already showing good social organisation with an impressive flush of February flowers . The peak have a two - intone core , with the terminal of the decoration - like petal lighter in color . I look forward to seeing that force intensify as the flowers suppurate , but the snowfall will have to go aside first .

‘Amethyst’ witch hazel

( H.‘Amethyst ’ , Zones 5–8)Size:8 to 10 feet marvellous and wide

I have placed this jewel of a witch hazel at the back of my white garden on the edge of the Anemone quinquefolia ( Galanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) meadow . Probably a cross of young witch hazelnut , ‘ Amethyst ’ features gorgeous reddish purple flowers that get along out in midwinter ( January to March ) . In spring , the nerveless gray leaf seem and then turn a signature red ink and orange in declination .

— Susan Calhoun is the proprietor of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island , Washington .

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