Species witch hazel
cream to yellow flowers with narrow, needle-like, long petals

witch hazel

Hamamelis intermedia 'Bernstein'

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis intermedia 'Bernstein') is an amazing plant that can offer beauty and utility. Its yellow blooms will light up your garden in late winter and early spring when the skies are grey, and it offers a pleasing vase of perfumed foliage for indoor arrangements. With it's upright spreading habit it makes a great hedging plant and unique privacy screen. This particular cultivar is especially disease-resistant and boasts an extended bloom season with larger, more dense yellow flowers than other varieties. Witch Hazel needs little pruning, offers attractive foliage, and is easy to maintain, so it is an ideal choice for any garden.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Layering Propagation,Cutting,Grafting Propagation,Division,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 8

Flowers:

Pale yellow with red at base Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Witch hazel should be watered every few days during the growing season from spring to autumn, allowing the soil to dry to a depth of about an inch before watering. During the winter months, water your witch hazel lightly once or twice per month when there is no rainfall. As with all plants, be careful not to overwater witch hazel, as this can cause root rot. Witch hazel prefers moist but well-drained soil, so it is important to monitor the soil moisture to ensure proper hydration.

sunlight

Witch hazel (Hamamelis intermedia 'Bernstein') requires 4 to 5 hours of full sunlight a day to thrive. It prefers early morning or late afternoon sun, as direct midday sunlight can scorch the leaves due to its thin cuticle. This plant species does not do well in shade and does not do well when exposed to long periods of direct sunlight. It should be kept away from southern facing windows, as strong, unshaded afternoon sun is too much for it. Witch hazel will do best when planted under the shade of a large, deciduous tree or on the north side of a building where there is dappled sunlight throughout the day.

pruning

Witch hazel (Hamamelis intermedia 'Bernstein') is a large, shrubby deciduous plant, typically growing up to 8 feet tall and wide. Pruning is necessary to maintain the desired size and shape of the plant. For best results, prune just after the blooming period in late winter or early spring. Aim to selectively prune the shrub to maintain the desired size and shape of the plant. Cut branches back to just above a healthy bud or side branch. Avoid cutting too close to the main stem, as this can promote disease. Remove any twiggy branches and reduce the overall size of the shrub by up to 30 percent to stimulate new growth and encourage more blooms in the future. When pruning Witch Hazel, be sure to use sharp, sanitized tools in order to minimize the potential spread of disease. Take care to avoid cutting into older wood (older than 3 years). Don’t forget to clean your pruning shears after each use to prevent the spread of disease from plant to plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Witch hazel typically starts flowering in late winter or early spring, usually between February and April.

Starts Flowering

Witch hazel typically starts flowering in late winter or early spring, usually between February and April.

Hardiness Map