A Stroll Though the Garden: Witch hazel – a favorite scent

So, have you been out in your garden yet to smell the flowers? That is a strange question, Eric. After all — much of the snow is gone. Last week I was looking out my backdoor and I saw at least 6 inches of snow on the ground — and I would have to use a shovel to dig a path to any part of my garden.

On the other hand, my hope is that I can bring you ideas that you may never have thought of trying in your own back yard. As I talk about this beautiful plant, I hope you may find a spot in your own garden for some of the smaller varieties.

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Getting to know witch hazel

Two weeks ago, I attended a master gardener Zoom meeting about the tall shrub or small tree witch hazel. I have used many interesting plants in my designs over the years on a regular basis. There are a number of varieties that have some serious hot colors of purple, red, orange and yellow and many colors in between as their flowers. The scents also are varied from having none to being subdued to strong enough with a marvelous scent to encourage you to get out your parka and boots and enjoy the scent on a sunny warm day.

Be aware on the really cool days; you will not see this flower in bloom because the flower will continue to stay in its case. Smart, right! As the day continues to cool, it will also return to its case. If you enjoy your pollinators, you will have to get one of these witch hazel plants.

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When the warm days come in the late fall and middle of winter and these plants are in bloom, you will find that there may be no other shrubs or plants in bloom to provide pollen for these insects. If you have hives, the witch hazels will be a busy place. You will not regret planting the cultivars Xintermedia Amethyst, Palida, or Jelena or the common witch hazel.

Leaves make the plant stand out

The leaves are for me one of the greatest benefits to growing this plant. Leaves can range from yellow to orange to red and purple. One aspect that can be a challenge is that the leaves seem to stay on the plant for a long time. Sometimes old leaves will cover over the bloom that comes on in the winter. I do consider witch hazel a four season plant.

The experience I have had growing my common witch hazel has been an excellent one. I sited my witch hazel under some trees where I have a number of other plants. I have experienced no real problems with this plant. I have not actively pruned my witch hazel.

A healthy witch hazel should be from 20 to 30 feet tall. We are at the most 10 feet, and I have not noticed any unusual insects or diseases in my walks that would have indicated that the witch hazel was sick. So, what I can tell you over the 15-plus-year trial is that witch hazel is a tough plant and will live its life providing you with these long petals for many years after planting it.

Only challenge may be a little aphid

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From the experience I have had and what I have read, the only challenge is a little aphid that seems to appear when you have the witch hazel near birch trees. The aphid will pierce one of the veins and the leaf will develop a tiny round ball which is called a gall. The scientific name of the insect is Hormaphis hamamelidis.

Vernal witch hazel and common witch hazel are both native plants that are mostly grown in the eastern US and Canada. You will find these two plants from Canada to Georgia and from the Atlantic to Arkansas and Nebraska. These plants prefer a moist soil avoiding dry conditions, grown in partial shade to full sun, and can endure most urban conditions.

Hope you have a great stroll through your garden this week and, if you have a chance to see some flowers in bloom, you need to check them out. If you have a challenge in your garden, drop me an e-mail at ewlarson546@yahoo.com. I shall restart my blog at ohiohealthyfoodcooperative.org soon. Thanks again for participating in our column.

Eric Lawson of Jeromesville is a veteran landscaper and gardening enthusiast and a founding board member of the Ohio Chapter of Association of Professional Landscape Designers. He encourages your gardening questions by sending an email to ewlarson546@yahoo.com.

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