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Woody > Hamamelis > Hamamelis vernalis > Hamamelis vernalis

Hamamelis vernalis


Vernal Witch Hazel or Hamamelis




Origin:  Missouri to Louisiana and Oklahoma, Introduced in 1908.
            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

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This plant is known as a very early and fragrant flowering shrub, with rounded and spreading growth habit at maturity. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils, sunlight and moisture conditions. Suitable as an understorey plant and recommended since even its tiny blooms are welcome in the thick of winter.



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

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Family
Hamamelidaceae
Genus
Hamamelis
Species
vernalis
Category
Woody
Type
Shrub (deciduous)
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
4–8
Canadian Hardiness Zone
5a
Temperature (°C)
-34 C
Temperature (°F)
-30 F
Height
2–3.5 m
Spread
2.5–5 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
March
General Description
This deciduous shrub is quite, neat in appearance but variable in form, branches are low and serpentine bending up at their extremities to form a broad rounded outline. This shrub will sucker and form large colonies if not rigorously cultivated.
Landscape
This plant is used for massing or grouping, screening or hedging, it is also used for its early spring colour and for its autumn foliage.
Cultivation
Somewhat difficult to transplant, grows admirably in poor drained, clay soils, does well in full sun or partial shade. Adapts to different pH soils.
Shape
Multi stemmed, dense rounded shrub.
Growth
Medium
ID Characteristic
Flowers have a strong odour, with red-purple growth. Flower buds are grouped, tan and pubescent, flowering in late winter.
Pests
Usually no serious pest problems. Oak gulls cause no real concern because most of them are harmless to the tree. Aphids cause stunted growth and produce honey dew on lower leaves. Leaf miners cause brown areas in leaves.
Habitat
Found on gravely soils and banks of streams as an understorey shrub.
Bark/Stem Description
Gray bark, pubescent young stems.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
Vegetative, naked, gray-brown, tomentose buds which are 7-14 mm long. Flower is stalked and rounded. Usually, 3-4 per stalk.
Leaf Description
Alternate, simple, obovate, 5-12.5 cm long and half to two ngthird’s as wide. It has a rarely sub cordate base, often unequal; medium to dark green in colour, with 4-6 veins. Petiole is 0.5-1 cm long.
Flower Description
It has yellow to red flowers that are long lasting and are 1 cm wide; these flowers have a strong odour and bloom in late winter. Flowers are stalked and usually in clusters of 3–4 per stalk.
Fruit Description
Fruit matures in September, and is a dehiscent capsule which is 1-1.5 cm long, and contains black seeds.
Colour Description
New growth is bronze to red-purple, it is medium to dark green in summer, changing to a nice yellow to golden-yellow in autumn.
Texture Description
Medium in foliage when semi-bare, thick density in foliage when truly bare.
Notable Specimens
The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Propagation
It is difficult to propagate this shrub. Rooting is easy but over winter survival is very difficult. To ensure survival, induce growth after rooting. The best way to propagate is through semi-hardwood cuttings.
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