Hamamelids Witch Hazels and Their Relatives By Andrew Fowler 4/7/06

Gardeners and horticulturists are always on the lookout for plants that will provide year-round interest with flowers, foliage, bark and interesting architectural forms. The family of Hamamelidaceae offers some of the best species for these characteristics. It is a fairly large family containing a diverse range of shrubs and trees native to North America and Asia, but not to Europe, where glaciation led to their extinction.

Perhaps the greatest representation of this family is in the witch hazels (Hamamelis spp.), known for their late fall or early spring blooms when little else is flowering. Other members include the winterhazels (Corylopsis spp.), witch-alders (Fothergilla spp.), Disanthus cercidifolius, a monotypic genus from Japan, and Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana, a monotypic genus from the Himalayas. The last two appear to have no common names, probably due to their rarity. There are also two tree species in the family; from Iran comes the Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica); and, perhaps most surprisingly, the native American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). There are a few other shrubs in the family, which are generally not hardy in our area, but might survive in a few well-protected microclimates: the Chinese fringe-flower (Loropetalum chinense), Chinese fighazel (Sycopsis sinensis), and the intergeneric hybrid, x Sycoparrotia semidecidua, resulting from a cross between the fighazel and the Persian ironwood. I shall confine my discussions and descriptions to those species proven to do well in the western New York area.

Witch hazels

Before describing these species, perhaps it's appropriate to consider the names in more detail. The common name appears in forms witchhazel, witch hazel, and witch-hazel. It seems to be derived from the custom of dowsing, or water-witching, in which one holds a pliant forked stick over the ground until it bends towards the ground, indicating the presence of water. This has a long tradition in Europe, where hazel (Corylus spp.) is used. In North America , dowsers use witch hazel. The "witch" is derived from the old Middle English word "wyche," meaning pliant. It seems to have nothing to do with witches, derived from Middle English "wicche," itself derived from Old English "wicce" (female) or "wicca" (male). The name of the practice, water-witching, is probably derived from its use of pliant branches, although it may have seemed like there was witchcraft involved. While the science behind dowsing is still unknown, it has proven itself effective for centuries, but that's another story.

The botanical name Hamamelis is something of a mystery, but probably is a combination of the Greek words hama, meaning "at the same time as," and melis, meaning "fruit tree," probably medlar, and refers to the fact that the common witch hazel (H. virginiana) flowers at the same time as the fruit of the medlar in fall.

There are four species of witch hazel generally available in the nursery trade and an ever growing number of named cultivars. Two species are native to North America: common witch hazel (H. virginiana) and vernal witch hazel (H. vernalis), sometimes called Ozark witch hazel.

Common witch hazel, also called spotted alder, snapping or winter bloom, is the more widespread of the two species, covering the country east of the Mississippi from Canada to Georgia. It is a common sight in the woods around western New York, where it grows as an understory shrub or small tree to about 15' to 20' high. It tends to sucker to form a multistemmed plant, and can often grow into a very wide, horizontally-spreading shrub, creating an impressive, attractive architecture. The young stems zigzag and are covered with pubescence, gradually aging to a smooth gray-brown. The leaves are alternate, simple and generally obovate, 3 to 6" long, with a coarsely toothed edge, and often pubescent along the underside, with short pubescent petioles. The leaves are a bright green, turning yellow, often spectacularly, in the fall. The flowers are formed along the stems in groups of 3 or 4 globose, stalked buds, which open from October to December. The flowers are perfect, yellow and slightly fragrant, and are composed of 4 strap-like crinkly petals, up to 2/3" long. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of the flowers is often diminished by the presence of the yellow foliage. The fruit is a small capsule with 4 sharp points, which matures over the next year and finally explodes, shooting out the small black seeds up to a distance of 25'. (If the seed pods are collected in September, be sure to keep them in a paper bag.) The spent pods can hang on the branches for many years.

Common witch hazel has a long history of use for medicinal purposes. An extract from leaves and bark is used as an astringent, and is commonly available today in drugstores. A perusal through any herbalogy will reveal a long list of ailments, both external and internal, supposedly responsive to witch hazel. As with any herbal remedy, especially internal, caution and expert consultation is advised

H. virginiana is a valuable shrub for the border, best sited in a cool, damp, shady spot under high canopy, although it will tolerate full sun. It is not commonly available in the trade, preference being given to many cultivars of the other species, especially the Asiatic ones. There are very few cultivars or selections of this species and none are readily available, but common witch hazel is the preferred understock for grafted cultivars; it is the most cold hardy, to Zone 3. There are no serious insect or disease pests.

The vernal witch hazel (H. vernalis) is a more southern species, found from Louisiana to Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is very similar to the common witch hazel, with somewhat narrower leaves, and a denser, compact form, reaching heights of 6 to 10'. The major difference comes in the flowering time, which is generally late winter/early spring; hence the vernal epithet. Flowering can range from early March in the north (it is hardy to Zone 4), to January in the south. The flowers are similar to the common witch hazel, consisting of 4 strap-like petals, usually yellow, with a darker orange to red calyx. Sometimes the petals range from yellow to red, which has led to some selections, such as 'Autumn Embers', with orange flowers and red-orange fall leaf color, and 'Red Imp', with petals grading from red to orange. There are a few purple-flowering varieties also, such as 'Girard's Purple' and 'Kohankie Red'. Vernal witch hazel offers more variety for the garden than the common witch hazel, and is also more tolerant of high pH soils, but is not very common in the trade, again having been supplanted by the Asiatic species and cultivars.

One of the best all-round witch hazels for gardens is the Chinese species (H. mollis), with its more fragrant and larger yellow flowers. It is later-blooming than the vernal species, usually flowering in late March or April in our area. Unfortunately, it is the least hardy, to Zone 5, and flower buds can be injured by extreme cold in the north. But it seems to do fine in western New York. There are a number of selections available of this species. The two most common are 'Brevipetala', with long deep yellow petals blushed with red at the base, and 'Pallida', with soft, sulfur yellow petals. The cultivar 'Superba' is considered by Michael Dirr to be a Chinese variety, although is usually grouped with the hybrid group (H. x intermedia). Whatever its heritage, 'Superba' is possibly the most fragrant variety; a fine specimen can be found in Durand-Eastman Park. Its only drawback is its tendency to hold its leaves all winter and into spring, interfering with the flower display. It is likely that the cultivar named 'Rochester' is the same as 'Superba'.

The other Asian species is H. japonica, which hails from Japan. This is less floriferous and fragrant than the Chinese species, and is seldom seen in the trade. But it has been used in cross-breeding with H. mollis to produce a long list of cultivars, collectively called H. x intermedia. These hybrids now provide the bulk of the witch hazels in the trade. The most common ones are: 'Arnold Promise', a clear yellow flower with a red calyx, fairly fragrant; 'Diane', probably one of the best red-flowering variety with red fall color; 'Jelena', with petals grading from red at the base through orange to yellow at the tip; and 'Primavera', a primrose yellow flower, very floriferous and fragrant. Dirr describes 26 cultivars of H. x intermedia, and also provides valuable information on leaf retention characteristics. Brotzman's nursery in Ohio lists 32 cultivars of H. x intermedia, as well as other species of witch hazel, in its 2004 catalog. One of my personal favorites I first saw outside the offices of Herman Losely nursery in Ohio, on March 25^th, 2003. The plant stood about 5' high with a span of perhaps 6 or 7', and was in full bloom with purple flowers. No one in the offices knew what it was, but I later learned from Tim Brotzman that it was a variety of H. vernalis raised at his nursery, called 'Kohankie Red'. Tim also said that 'Girard's Purple', a H. vernalis variety, was an even better purple, but I haven't seen that one yet.

A good display of witch hazels, of mature sizes, can be seen at the east entrance to Durand Eastman Park, along the south side of the road before it dips down to Pine Valley. Mid to late March is usually a good time to check for the yellow, orange and red blooms, but flowering times can vary significantly with the weather. I've seen them bloom in February after a good warm spell, and as late as April in some years.

There is a caution with these cultivars. Buyers should be aware that they are almost always grafted onto H. virginiana rootstock, and the potential for suckering from the understock is a concern with some varieties. It is not easy to tell the difference between the suckers and the scion from the leaves, and one must watch for shoots coming from below the graft, and remove them promptly, or risk losing the scion. It seems to be time-consuming and costly to produce these varieties from rooted cuttings, because of the difficulty in overwintering the cuttings after they have rooted. In spite of this, having a witch hazel or two in the garden is well worth it. They are not small plants, reaching 10 to 15 feet, but their graceful forms and early flowers, together with spectacular fall colors, are extremely rewarding. Moreover, their arching forms allow underplanting with other perennials and early spring bulbs. Planting them against a dark background, such an evergreen, helps to bring out the colors. In our climate, morning sun seems to be the best exposure, but given sufficient moisture, full sun also works.

Fothergillas

Another member of the Hamamelidaceae is the witch-alder or fothergilla (Fothergilla spp.). This is a native American genus, named after Dr. John Fothergill, a wealthy 18^th century English gardener and patron of the great American plantsman John Bartram. Dr. Fothergill was in large part responsible for the 18^th century state-of-the-art techniques for shipping plant materials around the world, and he maintained one of the earliest and most extensive collections of American plants at his home in Essex. Other common names for this plant include bottlebrush bush (a bit of a mouthful), granny gray beard, and spring scent, but fothergilla seems to be the most commonly used name.

There are two species of fothergilla, both native to the southeastern United States. These plants have been in cultivation since the mid 1700s, but they are still relatively rare in American gardens. As a general rule, gardeners, whether European, Asian or American, tend to prefer exotics over natives, so that one is more likely to see fothergillas in European gardens than in American. The other reason that fothergillas are not common is probably the difficulty in propagation, and long time required to produce a salable plant, as it is a very slow grower as a young plant. More recent research in the use of hormone treatments for cuttings has overcome the first problem, but there is still little demand from the American public to interest growers in producing quantities of plants. This is a pity, because these plants are some of the best, low-maintenance shrubs available, offering beautiful fragrant white flowers in spring, fairly small stature, and excellent fall colors, with few pest problems.

The most common species available is Fothergilla gardenii, dwarf fothergilla, native to the coastal plains from Carolina to Florida, which grows into a dense, compact shrub about 3 to 5' tall with an equal spread. The flowers appear before the leaves in early May, and consist of small bottlebrushes, at first a greenish white turning to a creamy white, about 2" long, with a honey-like fragrance. The flowers, lasting about 10 days, are followed by green to blue-green leaves, alternate, rounded and dentate, glaucous on top and tomentose beneath, very similar in form to those of witch hazels. These leaves put on a magnificent display of orange, red and yellow, all at the same time, in October. Full sun is best for maximum flower and fall color, but the plants will do quite well in part shade. Well-drained soil is a must, and preferably on the acid side. There are a number of cultivars available, showing slight variations from the species. Perhaps the most distinct cultivar is 'Blue Mist', which has very attractive blue-green leaves, which tend to be narrower than the species, and forms a more open small shrub to about 3 feet tall. 'Blue Mist' is a fine shrub, but does not have the vigor of the species, nor color as nicely in the fall, and seems to prefer more shade. Perhaps it is not quite as hardy as the species.

The other species is large fothergilla (Fothergilla major), which grows more into the Piedmont and Appalachians of North Carolina and Tennessee. This species is hardier than F. gardenii, to about Zone 4. A much more robust plant than the dwarf species in all regards, F. major can reach 10', although more commonly 5 to 6' in our area. The leaves are similar to but almost twice as large as those of the dwarf, and the flowers tend to be slightly larger and more showy, though of the same form and scent, emerging a little later than those of F. gardenii, often at the same time as the leaves are unfurling. Fall color is spectacular with yellows, reds and orange, often on the same leaf, especially on the cultivar 'Mt. Airy'. As with the dwarf species, large fothergilla requires acid, well-drained soil, and full sun for best color and flower. Generally free of pests and diseases, deer browsing in winter can be significant, although sporadic, and high pH can result in marginal chlorosis of the leaves, and subsequent poor fall coloration.

Winterhazel

Winterhazels (Corylopsis spp.) are less well-known members of the Hamamelidaceae family than witch hazels, at least in our area. The name, both botanical and common, refers to the resemblance of their leaves to those of hazel (Corylus spp.). They tend to bloom in April (which in our area can sometimes be referred to as late winter) before the leaves emerge. All are natives of Asia, mostly Japan. They are not as hardy as witch hazels and often lose the flower buds to freezing temperatures, although the plants themselves grow well. There are three main species of winterhazel hardy to our area. All can be seen in Highland Park, where they are reliable bloomers. Even better displays of winterhazel can be seen in Winterthur Gardens in Delaware.

Fragrant winterhazel (Corylopsis glabrescens) is perhaps the hardiest, growing to about 8' tall and as wide. The multiple trunks tend to be wide-spreading and give the plant a flat-topped appearance. The branches and twigs zigzag at each alternate bud, lending a contorted look the form, most evident in winter. The leaves are fairly large cordate and toothed, slightly pubescent on the underside, and smooth green, or slightly glaucous above. They tend to keep their medium green color until freeze knocks them off--very little fall color can be expected, a green-yellow at best. The flowers are the best part. The large pointed buds develop in the fall, and, if not frozen out, develop into pendulous racemes, about 1 to 2 inches long, of pale yellow fragrant flowers. Well-drained organic soils are best, in full sun or part shade, with some shelter from winter winds.

Two other smaller species are available. Spike winterhazel (Corylopsis spicata) matures at about 5 or 6' high and about 8' wide, and produces an attractive tangle of zigzagging, contorted branches. The flowers are similar to those of the fragrant species, but slightly longer racemes and also slight fragrance. The leaves are better in my view, having a nice bluish cast in the summer, but again no appreciable fall color. I had a large spike winterhazel for a number of years, and although it grew well and produced numerous flower buds, they always froze out, resulting in very poor flowering. I finally got rid of it. A smaller, perhaps more refined species is the buttercup winterhazel (Corylopsis pauciflora), maturing at about 4', with smaller leaves and smaller flowers. This species is not as hardy as the previous two, and flowering in our area is probably less reliable. It seems to do better in a shady area.

Disanthus

Possibly the least well-known of the family is this monotypic genus from Japan. Disanthus cercidifolius seems to have no common name and is called simply "disanthus." The genus name refers to the paired dark red flowers, which occur in the fall, usually October. These are so small as to be ornamentally insignificant, but resemble small witch hazel flowers with short strap-like petals. The flowers are followed by paired seed capsules, which, like the witch hazel, require a year to mature and expel the seeds in the same explosive manner. The specific epithet refers to the leaf, which is heart-shaped, resembling the redbud (Cercis spp.). The leaves emerge reddish, turning blue-green in summer, and finishing with magnificent displays of wine red and purple in the fall. The shrub forms a large multistemmed architectural mass of zigzagging branches to about 8' high and as wide. The best situation for disanthus in our area seems to be part shade, under a high canopy with eastern exposure, and a woodsy, organic soil on the acid side. Given these conditions it is not a difficult plant and will reach mature height in about 5 years. I have never seen any insect or disease pests on my specimen. This is truly a beautiful plant and a good one to stump your knowledgeable friends.

Parrotiopsis

Another rare monotypic genus in the witch hazel family is Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana. This large shrub, to about 12', hails from the Himalayas, and is virtually unknown in gardens. However, there is a large specimen outside Warner Castle in Highland Park. There appears to be no common name for this species. The flowers are quite showy, appearing in May, and consist of clusters of yellow stamens above showy white bracts. The leaves are dark green, ovate with serrated margins, and small tufts of pubescence along the veins on the underside. This is almost never seen in nurseries and rarely offered in catalogs, but is worth seeking by the serious collector.

Persian Ironwood

Of the trees in the witch hazel family, the Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) offers some of the finest ornamental characteristics for northern gardens. This is named for a German naturalist, F.W. Parrot, who was reputedly the second man to climb the summit of Mt. Ararat (after Noah). The parrotia is a native of the mountains of Iran and has nothing to do with parrots ('parrot tree' is not an appropriate name). It is hardy to about Zone 5, and reaches a height of probably 25' in this area. It is often multi-stemmed, which shows off the exfoliating mosaic-like bark of gray, green, white and brown, on older stems, reminiscent of the bark of lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana). The leaves emerge a reddish color, changing to bright green and shiny, obovate, and coarsely toothed above the middle, very similar to witch hazels and fothergillas. Some have a purplish edge to the leaves when they first unfold, which is very attractive, and no doubt will be sold as a selection, if not already so. The fall color is about as good as it gets, with orange, red, purple and yellows, all together, and develops quite late in the fall. The apetalous perfect flowers are quite small and not ornamentally significant, emerging before the leaves in spring (April), the showiest part being the crimson stamens.

Parrotia likes a well-drained soil on the acid side and full sun for best color, although part shade is satisfactory. Once established it seems to be quite drought and wind tolerant; it is also reputed to be grow quite well in high pH soils such as the chalky soils of England, which is unusual for the witch hazel family. There appear to be no significant pest problems, although mine did lose one of its stems to an undiagnosed problem shortly after planting, but quickly recovered. There are a few selections available, such as a weeping form, 'Pendula', and an upright form, 'Vanessa'. No doubt more varieties will be forthcoming as the buying public discovers the beauty of this tree.

Sweetgum

For fall color it is hard to beat the American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), probably the most unlikely member of the witch hazel family. The genus name is derived from the golden sweet sap (it was called 'Liquid Ambar' in William Bartram's 1783 catalog), while the specific name styraciflua ('styracifolia' according to Bartram) refers to storax (Gr. styrax), an aromatic balsam extracted from sweetgum in America and used in medicine and perfumery; a similar incense, storax, was extracted from a Mediterranean tree, Styrax officinalis.

The American sweetgum is a native of the eastern United States from coastal Connecticut to Florida and west to Arkansas and east Texas. Although more of a southern tree, it is hardy in western New York to Zone 5; as a young tree it suffers from some freezing dieback in some years; once it gets about 6 or 7' tall seems to manage quite well. It is a large tree to about 60 feet in height, so don't plant it next to your house. In its native habitat it is often found along bottomlands in deep alluvial soils, although it is quite adaptable, and is a common street tree in the Midwest, where soils tend to be heavy clays. It can also tolerate some wet soils. Full sun is best for growth and fall color. Being taprooted, it is somewhat difficult to transplant and should be planted as a young tree. Reestablishment in the landscape can be slow, and often top growth will essentially stop for a couple of years until roots have been established.

It is late to leaf out and late to change color in the fall. Leaves are alternate, dark green and shiny, with five pointed lobes, and reminiscent of maples which are opposite. Leaves develop intense spectacular purples, reds and yellows in the fall, often after almost everything else has dropped their leaves. Stems develop corky ridges after two years and the bark of the main trunk is deeply ridged and furrowed. Flowers are insignificant ornamentally and monoecious; female flowers are small globular green-yellow structures on long stalks, which develop into the characteristic spiky gumballs in the fall; male flowers are in small upright panicles. Both emerge in May as leaves are unfurling.

Not the most pest-free of trees, the sweetgum can be plagued with leaf spot, bleeding necrosis, various caterpillars and scale insects, but these are more of a problem in the native range than in our area. There are a number of cultivars available, including variegated forms like 'Silver King', 'Albomarginata', and 'Gold Dust'; a round-lobed form called 'Rotundiloba', reputed to be fruit-free (good choice for those who don't like "messy fruit"); a few selections for fall color, like 'Oconee', 'Carnival', 'Burgundy'; and a narrow-lobed form called 'Worplesdon'. Few of these are available locally; in fact the species is not commonly available around here. It should be more common, and would make a good alternative to the overplanted Norway Maple (Acer platanoides).

In summary the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae) offers a variety of plants to suit every garden, from the small shrub such as Fothergilla gardenii to the mid sized shrubs of the Corylopsis genus, to the large shrubs of the witch hazels (Hamamelis spp.), Disanthus, and Parrotiopsis, and mid-sized trees such as the Parrotia persica, or large shade trees like the sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). For fragrant flowers in early spring and stunning fall colors, every home garden should have a Hamamelid.

Further Reading Dirr, Michael A. 1998 Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. 5th Edition. Stipes Publishing. Elias, Thomas S. 1989 Field Guide to North American Trees. Revised Edition. Grolier Book Clubs Inc. Johnson, Hugh 1993 The International Book Of Trees. Chancellor Press.