The flowers appear in the late winter and bloom into the spring and are a welcome food source for local bees. Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ features wavy, clear yellow, long petals rising from red cups with yellow markings.
Prune in the spring after flowering to control shape and size. Promptly remove root suckers to prevent colonial spread - it is particularly important to remove suckers rising from below a graft union. They can tolerate clay soils if there is sufficient drainage. Moist, acidic, organically rich soils are preferred.
Tiny witch hazel tree full#
Witch hazels are easy to grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. The hybrid name intermedia refers to the hybrid characteristics being intermediate between the characteristics of the two parent species. Witch hazels are valued for their spidery, often fragrant late winter flowers that appear on bare branches before the foliage emerges.Īccording to the Missouri Botanical Garden website, the genus name hamamelis comes from the Greek hama, meaning at the same time and melon, meaning apple or fruit, in reference to the occurrence of both fruit and flowers at the same time on this shrub (particularly in the case of fall flowering members of this genus). Hamamelis x intermedia all are loosely branched, medium to large deciduous shrubs (or small trees) that typically grow from 2.5 to 4.5 metres tall, with a similar spread. japonica) and crosses of the two (Hamamelis x intermedia) all bloom in the late winter and early spring. mollis) and the Japanese witch hazel ( H. Witch hazels can be a little confusing, our native witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms in the autumn, while the Chinese witch hazel ( H. With their optimistic show of early colour, it’s surprising that more gardeners don’t include witch hazels in their home gardens, this easy care shrub or small tree is worth a closer look. There is something incredibly optimistic about a tree that blooms while I’m still bundled up in my winter coat and gloves - it’s as if the witch hazels have had enough of winter and want to get a jump start on spring. Next stop was the west facing side of the butterfly conservatory, where ‘Arnold Promise’ witch hazels ( Hamamelis x intermedia) were also enjoying the early afternoon sunshine. They seem oblivious to the white blanket of snow at their feet. When viewed from the wooden deck, the trees call out a cheery hello against a backdrop of dark conifers. Reassuringly, they were celebrating the sunny day with a cloud of wispy yellow flowers. My first stop was the landscaped pond to visit the witch hazel trees they are among my favourite harbingers of spring.
I’ve been coming to the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens for more years than I’d care to admit, and have my favourite spring haunts - I check them out when I need a boost of colour and proof that spring is finally on our doorstep. I bundled up and headed out for a walk in the park.
There may still be snow on the ground, but the March sun seems determined to usher in a change of seasons.
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