Virginian Witch Hazel (hamamelis virginiana)
40-60cm
£3.60
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Virginian Witch Hazel (hamamelis virginiana)
£3.60
Deciduous shrub or small tree (typically 4–8 m tall) valued for fragrant yellow spider-like flowers in autumn (often overlapping with golden autumn foliage), attractive form,
Hardy, low maintenance once established, and traditional medicinal uses of its bark and leaves. Good for informal gardens, woodland edges, or as a specimen.
Planting advice
- Plant while dormant: November to March/April (avoid frozen or waterlogged ground).
- On arrival: keep roots moist before planting. Heel in temporarily if needed.
- Site: open, sunny or partial shade position, sheltered from cold drying winds.
- Soil: moist but well-drained, humus-rich, preferably neutral to slightly acidic (tolerates clay if improved; avoid extremes of waterlogging or drought). Incorporate well-rotted organic matter; plant on a slight mound on heavy clay.
- Method: dig a hole wide enough for roots to spread (roughly twice the root spread, same depth as the nursery soil mark/root collar). Spread roots out, backfill, firm gently, and water thoroughly. Do not plant too deeply.
- Aftercare: mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds; water regularly in the first 1–2 years during dry spells. Minimal pruning needed (remove dead wood only).
Photo credit: Grzegorz W. Tężycki, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons