witch hazel

14 years ago

I planted a witch hazel last spring. It did beautifully through the summer and fall. Everything seemed fine through the winter and in early March I started wondering if I would see the yellow blooms this year or if I would have to wait a year or two. It was covered in buds that gave me every indication all was well. Nothing happened. Spring came and the buds did nothing but dry up. The leaves were slow to appear and sparce. About 85% of the shrub now appears to be dead and leafless. The few limbs that do have leaves appear to be healthy. I don't know what to do. Do I scrap the shrub altogether? Do I prune out the dead and live with a very lopsided shrub (if so when is it best to prune)? Is there a way to "train" the pruned shrub into a more balanced plant? Oh, also, I think part of the problem has to do with what looks like "strain or stretching" on the shrub's bark near the base of the dead areas. We had a lot of freezing and thawing this winter. Is it possible that the weather caused the bark damage and consequently the destruction to the shrub? Thanks in advance.

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Comments (3)

aegis1000
14 years ago
I've got a couple Witch Hazels. I've never had any trouble from them ... other than I had to protect them from rabbits their first couple of winters.

If I were you, I'd start over with a new plant, though you'll probably have to wait until the fall or spring to do so. Also check your siting, ... maybe there was too much wind which, efectively, winter-killed your young plant. Maybe you can find a more protected planting site.

Finally, I have the species (Hamamelis Virginiana), and though it does bloom ... the bloom is not very spectacular.

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Hamamelis Virginiana

I have seen much more spectacular bloom on Hamamelis mollis
(Chinese Witch-Hazel)

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Hamamelis Mollis

... or on one of the Hamamelis x intermedia hybrids (particularly Pallida).

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Hamamelis x intermedia "Pallida"

Undoubtably you would have to order one of these from a reputable mail-order firm (I'd suggest Klehm's Song Sparrow), but I think that you'd get a much more attractive and interesting plant.
greyandamy
13 years ago
I spent a lot of money a few years back on an Arnolds promise. It was supposed to be, as they said, resistant to a lot of diseases. It's not that exciting yet in flower. I know they grow slowly, but I sure wouldn't say spectular. Maybe not enough water...
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bogturtle
12 years ago
I found that witchhazels are expensive and so was unwilling to spend on them. But they all have succeeded.
Try one, again. I lost a Cornus mas, and do not know why. I was told that the spot must have been a bad place for the plant. I put another in the same spot, and it is thriving.
I use the disgusting product 'Liquid Fence' to keep the rabbits from the plants.
Photos are on my blog 'bogturtles garden' which is fairly easy to find on the web, and featuring witch hazel photos over the last month or so.