Although spring doesn’t officially start for another week, a stroll in the garden will tell you otherwise. With the snow finally melted and the soil beginning to warm, the garden is once again showing signs of life. Spring-flowering bulbs are beginning to poke through the leaf litter, and tree flower buds are beginning to swell. Many migrating birds are back and can be easily seen perched on bare tree branches. All these signs are telling us that spring has arrived.
Photo: Witchhazels flowering on March 9th, Hofstra University, Hempstead
But for me, the unofficial start to spring begins with the blooming of the Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.). Almost a month before the Flowering Cherries or Forsythia come into bloom, the Witchhazel proudly displays its golden-yellow flowers. Unique clusters of tendril-like petals hug the thin branches of this large, upright, deciduous shrub. The sunny yellow flowers displayed against a backdrop of drab grays and browns, remind us of the warmer days soon to come. But If the Witchhazel had waited another month until the other spring flowering trees were in bloom, probably not many people would be paying attention to the odd-looking, funky flowers. But the Witchhazel is smart – by flowering before any other tree, the Witchhazel can monopolize a small number of pollinators, and monopolize the hearts of a large number of gardeners.
Photo: The unique flowers of Witchhazel
Most Witchhazels planted these days are cultivars of the hybrid Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia), which is a cross between the Chinese (H. mollis) and Japanese Witchhazels (H. japonica). The hybrid Witchhazel is a fairly vigorous large, multi-stemmed shrub that grows up to 20 feet tall, with an upright, spreading habit. One of the top cultivars for yellow flowers is ‘Arnold Promise.’ Other varieties have been developed with copper-colored or red flowers, including ‘Jelena’ and ‘Rubin.’ Witchhazel can be grown in full sun or partial shade, and prefers moist, fertile, acidic soil. The leaves of Witchhazel have wavy edges, and many plants have a slightly blue or gray tinge to the foliage. Depending on the cultivar, fall color can be a spectacular display of bright yellow, scarlet, or orange.
Photo: 'Arnold Promise' is a great yellow-flowering cultivar of Hamamelis x intermedia, Riverhead
But if you happen to spot yellow flowers amidst all this fall color, your eyes are not deceiving you – our native Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) actually flowers in late fall rather than late winter. Common Witchhazel is native to most of the eastern U.S. where it forms an understory large shrub or small tree in deciduous forests. Common Witchhazel also makes an excellent landscape plant, perfect for the shrub border, native gardens, or naturalized areas.
Hamamelis is a genus of plants that loves to flower when few others are doing so. If you would like to extend the season in your garden, consider planting a Witchhazel. No other plant will tell you that spring is unofficially here!
