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How to Grow and Care for Chinese Witch Hazel Plants

Hamamelis mollis

This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayOnce established this plant requires little or no supplemental wateringThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringRed flowering plantYellow flowering plantA photograph is availableHow to Use the Plant Care Icons at The Garden Helper

Chinese Witch Hazel, Hamamelis mollis is a low maintenance, deciduous shrub
that typically grows 10-15 feet tall with a similar spread.
Branches that have already formed buds can be cut and forced to bloom indoors
using the same method you used to force Forsythia or Quince sprigs.
Gizzy the Garden Gnome: Forcing Witch Hazel sprigs to bloom indoors will make spring seem much closer!

Growing Requirements for Witch Hazel Plants

Witch Hazel is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9 and is one of the earliest of all blooming shrubs,
providing you with up to eight weeks of unique, fragrant flowers.
Some varieties begin blooming as early as December
while others may bloom as late as March.
The soft grayish-green leaves emerge after the flowers.
The foliage turns to a bright yellowish-orange color in the fall.

Witch Hazel grows best in moist, rich, acidic soil.
To reach its maximum blooming potential, Witch Hazel should be grown in full sun,
but it will grow and bloom in partial shade as well.
Once established, Witch Hazel plants will tolerate occasional periods of drought.

Provide protection from cold winter winds.

Pruning Witch Hazel

Witch Hazels seldom need pruning, but if you feel the need, the best time is from November to February, while the plant is dormant.
You can also prune your Witch Hazel lightly after it has finished flowering in the spring.

Propagating Witch Hazel Plants

Witch Hazel can be grown from seed that has been chilled in the refrigerator
for three months before planting them in the garden in early spring.
Germination may take up to one year.

Hamamelis can also be propagated by softwood cuttings taken in June.

Flowers of a Witch Hazel, Hamamelis mollis A Witch Hazel Plant Blooming at the J.A. Witt Winter Gardens in the Washington Park Arboretum The Bright Yellow Flower of a Chinese Witch Hazel Plant, Hamamelis mollis
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis mollis


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