Witch hazel plant care: how to grow this winter-flowering shrub in your garden

Witch hazel is one of the few shrubs that blossom in winter and early spring, when there's often very little color elsewhere to be seen. Its golden, orange, or sometimes reddish flowers are quite unusual, with slender, twisted petals that create a rather spidery look.

But it's not just the dazzling blooms that will catch your attention. Many varieties also offer a sweet scent that hangs in the air on still days, as well as deciduous leaves that turn buttery or fiery orange in autumn. Witch hazels are also exceptionally winter hardy (zone 3) and are generally tolerant of a range of different conditions, which makes them easy to care for.

From Asia come two winter or spring flowering witch hazels – Hamamelis mollis and Hamamelis japonica. The hybrid between the two species, Hamamelis x intermedia, is also widely grown.

Although they are slow-growing at first, they are well worth the wait. Given space to develop, a witch hazel is an essential addition to your winter garden ideas.

Where to plant witch hazel

Witch hazels prefer soil types that are acid or neutral. They thrive less well in limey conditions, although improving limey soil with composted bark can be beneficial. 

Good drainage is also helpful, as they do not like waterlogged soil. Flowering will be most prolific in full sun, although not if the soil is dry. Dappled shade is often the best compromise.

A site protected from harsh winter wind is also ideal, as the shelter can help concentrate the fragrance as it hangs in the air. For that reason, consider planting your witch hazel near a garden wall or fence. But, ensure there is still plenty of space around it so it can grow into a naturally elegant specimen.

It's also a good idea to grow plants that are dispensable around it – ones that can be pruned or removed, or those that will gradually fade away as the witch hazel develops.

When to plant witch hazel

Witch hazels grown in tubes or containers can be planted at any time from late fall to early spring when the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. If conditions are not suitable, keep the plants in a cozy corner until the situation improves.

Witch hazel is also one of the best trees to grow in pots, and if you're going for this approach, you can plant it at any time. Just ensure you provide plenty of water to keep the soil moist if you're planting it during the spring or summer.

Bare root plants are best planted as soon as possible after you receive them but, again, if the ground is frozen, wait until conditions improve.

How to plant witch hazel

Witch hazel plants need no special planting method. 

However, a top tip to remember is that they are not deep rooting. So, rather than preparing a deep planting hole, dig plenty of organic matter into a wider area, about a square yard/meter. The hole itself should not be much deeper than the depth of the plant's container. 

After watering in, mulch with weed-free compost or soil conditioner. Be sure to choose an acid material for this – composted bark for example – rather than a limey one such as mushroom compost. You can learn more about composting with our guide.

How to care for witch hazel

If you're a fan of low maintenance garden ideas (and let's face it, most people are!), you'll be pleased to know that witch hazel plant care isn't tricky. In fact, they need little special treatment. What's more, pests and diseases are rarely a problem.

Applying rhododendron fertilizer in the autumn, followed by weed-free mulching, will help keep them growing well and suppress weeds. In hot, dry summers, witch hazels will definitely appreciate watering but they don't need wet soil.

How to prune witch hazel

Some shrubs need pruning every year, sometimes twice. However, witch hazel rarely needs pruning at all and can be left to develop its own natural shape. 

Only if your witch hazel is damaged should any broken shoots be cut back to healthy growth. Also, if two branches are rubbing together, it's best to remove one of them with your best loppers or secateurs, ensuring they are clean and sharp.

How to propagate witch hazel

Witch hazels are not easy to propagate. It's possible to take cuttings from plants in spring, but even professional propagators find that the success rate is very low. 

So, in the nursery, they're usually propagated by grafting. That is, a piece of the named variety is joined to a rootstock – the root of a different species that is easy to grow from seed and develops quickly but has small flowers. A wild American species is often used.

But sometimes, as the plant matures and is growing well, a shoot may suddenly grow from below ground at the base of the stems. These suckers from the rootstock are often very vigorous and grow vertically up through the rest of the plant. They are not the named variety that looks so wonderful in flower, so these suckers should be cut out as low down as possible otherwise they will take over.

Overall, grafting witch hazel is skilled and labor-intensive work which accounts for the fact that these plants are usually more expensive than most other shrubs.

Why isn't my witch hazel scented?

If you're after a scented winter flowering shrub, it's all a question of choosing the right variety. Some witch hazels are strongly fragranced and some have very little scent. 

Top choices include 'Aphrodite' (which is orange), 'Arnold Promise' and 'Pallida' (both of which are pale yellow), 'Aurora' (bronzed yellow), or 'Vesna' (orange-yellow).

Can you cut witch hazel back if it's becoming too large for its space?

The elegant growth of a mature witch hazel is one of its joys, so allowing it to mature is almost always the best plan. Some varieties may eventually develop into small trees, but you can plant shade-loving perennials and spring flowering bulbs under its branches. You'll find some lovely suggestions for best plants under trees in our guide.

If your witch hazel and a nearby shrub are maturing together and getting in each other's way, think carefully before cutting one of them back. Most shrubs respond well to thoughtful pruning to restrict their size, but few shrubs have such an attractive branch structure as a witch hazel. Because of this, the other shrub will usually be the one to restrict.

My witch hazel is still hanging on to its leaves in late winter and they hide the flowers. How can I make them drop off?

Although witch hazels are fabulous for livening up a winter landscaping scheme, this problem can spoil the overall effect.

Again, it's all a matter of choosing the right varieties: some hang on to their leaves with determination, some hang on to them longer than we would like, and some drop them promptly. 

So, to be sure that dry brown foliage never obscures the flowers, look for 'Arnold Promise', 'Orange Beauty', 'Pallida', and 'Wisley Supreme'.

Most witch hazels originate in China or Japan – are there any that are native to the US?

Yes, there is a North American native witch hazel, otherwise known as Hamamelis virginiana. Unlike the Asian witch hazel, it is a fall-flowering species. It grows in forest clearings and margins, in thin woodland and along shady highways across the east, from Quebec south to Texas and Florida. 

The American witch hazel has fragrant yellow flowers. Although the blooms are smaller than the Asian witch hazel, it still has a delightfully sweet scent.

The Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis), is another very small-flowered but heavily scented species, found in Missouri and Arkansas. This rare specimen has orange or yellow flowers that bloom in spring.

How to buy witch hazel plants

Witch hazel plants are usually offered for sale in two different ways. Many nurseries and garden centers offer plants in containers. These are often in gallons or sometimes larger, two or three-gallon containers. These can be expensive to ship but usually establish quickly after planting. The pot may be removed for shipping, and the plant wrapped in a bag. Plants in large containers are also heavy to lift, so get help if you’re buying in person at a garden center or nursery and when unloading and planting at home.

Large plants in large containers can also be expensive. But remember, what you are paying extra for is the time your plant has spent in the nursery developing into a mature specimen that will have instant impact.

Sometimes, witch hazel plants are offered by mail order nurseries bare root – that is, dug up from the nursery and with the soil shaken off the roots. Removing the soil saves on shipping costs but plants may need extra care until new roots develop.

Where to buy witch hazel

Now you know how to grow witch hazel, and just how simple it really is, you may well want one to add to your own garden design ideas. We've rounded up some quicklinks to start your search for the perfect plant for you.

Where to buy witch hazel plants in the US:

• Shop witch hazel plants at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)
• Shop witch hazel plants at Dancing Oaks  (opens in new tab)
• Shop witch hazel plants at Plant Lust (opens in new tab)

Where to buy witch hazel plants in the UK:

• Shop witch hazel plants at Crocus (opens in new tab)
• Shop witch hazel plants at YouGarden (opens in new tab)
• Shop witch hazel plants at Amazon (opens in new tab)
• Shop witch hazel plants at Thompson & Morgan (opens in new tab)
• Shop witch hazel plants at Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery (opens in new tab)