Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.
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Position
Full sun to part shade.
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Frost tolerant
American witch hazel is extremely cold hardy, tolerating winter temperatures to -30°F (-34°C). Chinese witch hazel and Japanese witch hazel are hardy to only about -10F (-23°C).
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Feeding
None generally needed.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 14' 9" (4.50m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 14' 9" (4.50m) with 14' 9" (4.50m) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Non-hybrid witch hazels can be grown from seed, but seedlings may take eight years to reach flowering size. To save growing time, set out purchased plants in spring at about the time of your last frost. Container-grown plants can be transplanted until early summer, but may shed some leaves if set out under stressful conditions. Water young plants regularly, and cover the root zone with an organic mulch to keep the soil moist at all times. Witch hazels become more drought tolerant after the plants are well rooted. These multi-stemmed small trees look great planted alone or in groups of three, allowing 15 feet (4.5 m) between plants. In home landscapes, mature trees to 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m) tall and wide. Young plants can be held in pots for year, but should be planted in the ground as soon as possible.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
All witch hazels grow into small, vase-shaped multi-stemmed trees of similar size and appearance. The color of the thready flowers can vary from yellow to rusty red, but the main difference between witch hazels is bloom time. Native to the eastern US, American witch hazel blooms in autumn, imparting its sweet fragrance as the leaves begin to fall. Blossoms may persist into early winter. Chinese witch hazel produces fragrant blooms in winter, a rare source of interest during the coldest months. Japanese witch hazel blooms in late winter, announcing the early arrival of spring. Most witch hazels turn bright yellow in fall. Historically, witch hazel bark has been used to make astringent witch hazel.
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Harvesting
Cut witch hazel stems make interesting additions to any vase, especially when combined with evergreens. Slow-growing hardwoods, witch hazel trees need little pruning beyond trimming off broken or dead branches whenever they appear. Prune witch hazels in spring, after they have finished flowering. Or, leave the summer-ripening seed pods to be harvested by birds.
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Troubleshooting
Some leaf chewing may occur when witch hazels support native butterfly larvae. Japanese beetles may bother young plants. Deer sometimes eat the foliage, so protect newly planted witch hazels with a wire fence.
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