Gardening: 5 varieties of witch hazel to consider based on fragrance and color

Today is the first day of spring, and here in central Ohio, the day will be greeted by some of the first flowers of the new season. Not crocus, daffodils or even hellebores, but the odd-shaped confetti-like flowers of witch hazel are in full bloom today, welcoming spring and providing the first food of the season for bees and other pollinators foraging for dinner.

Witch hazel (genus Hamamelis) is a large deciduous tree-like shrub that can grow to 15 to 20 feet tall when mature. Much like the dogwood, witch hazel is an understory woody plant that thrives when protected by taller trees or even the shade resulting from structures. It will thrive in most soil conditions but tends to suffer in dry soils in hot summer weather. Several varieties of witch hazel will begin blooming in late autumn and early winter. 

Native woodland plant

Witch hazel is native to deciduous forests of the eastern half of the United States,  including Ohio. Native Americans used the pliable branches of witch hazel to make bows used to sling arrows. There are four species of witch hazels: American witch hazel (H. virginiana); Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis); Ozark witch hazel (H. vernalis); and Japanese witch hazel (H. japonica).

Witch hazel has a long history of medicinal use. Native Americans used the leaves and bark as a poultice or tea to reduce inflammation and fever. Today, witch hazel is used in cosmetics, and a lotion of the extract and alcohol is marketed as a first aid for abrasions and skin irritations.

Forked stems of this plant have been used as "divining rods," too. The stems are said to dip down when held over underground water, thereby locating the site of a future well, a practice known as "water witching.”

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Novel flowers

The blooms of witch hazel are unlike any flowers you are likely to find in the landscape.  They appear in clusters on branches with four ligulate petals. The term "ligulate" describes petals that are like thin and ribbon-like. The petals are up to an inch long and very narrow, giving the appearance of confetti or short ribbons. 

The flowers are somewhat fragrant and will last for several weeks depending upon early spring temperatures. The flowers seem to glow like fiery embers in the backlight of the low winter sun and flutter in the wind like pompoms at a fall football game.

Flower colors range from yellow to shades of orange and red depending upon the variety of the plant.

Underused in landscape

Witch hazel has not been widely planted by home gardeners and landscapers, but can be the perfect addition to woodland gardens. Consider planting beneath and in front of taller mature conifer or deciduous trees, or as a companion plant for dogwood and redbud, other small understory trees that thrive in areas that receive some shade during the day.

Although witch hazel may grow in areas of dense shade, locations with filtered sun will produce longer and better blooms. The ideal location is one that receives morning sun and filtered shade in the hot afternoon.

The leaves of witch hazel provide vibrant autumn color, with most varieties exhibiting deep golden-colored leaves that remain on branches until winter.

Witch hazel is relatively maintenance-free but is easily pruned to keep the plant from growing too tall in small spaces. The plant is resistant to most insect and diseases, and deer are not attracted to this plant.

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Recommended varieties

Whether you're choosing a witch hazel for fragrance, floral impact or fall foliage, there are varieties suited for each use. Varieties have also been selected for losing their leaves before the flowers appear, one of the less-desired traits of native species. Some recommended varieties include:

• Arnold Promise: vase-shaped, with fragrant light yellow, late-winter blooms, and red and yellow fall color; grows 15 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide

• Jelena: Belgian cultivar, more horizontal in habit with early to midwinter copper-orange flowers and good orange-red fall foliage; grows 15 feet tall and wide

• Diane: Belgian cultivar, late-winter bloom of deep-red flowers fading to copper and vivid red; yellow and orange fall color; grows 10 feet tall and wide.

• Pallida: Early flowering with soft yellow, very fragrant blooms and yellow fall color;   grows 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide

• New Year's Gold and Orange Sunrise: Both are varieties of H. vernalis that lose their leaves before they flower in late fall.

Mike Hogan is an associate professor at Ohio State University and an educator at the OSU Extension.

hogan.1@osu.edu