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How to Grow and Care for Chinese witch hazel

Chinese witch hazel thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with consistent moisture. Special care points include situating chinese witch hazel in an area with full sun to partial shade and protecting it from strong winds. Chinese witch hazel is considered easy to care for, requiring minimal pruning primarily for shape and removal of any dead wood.

Watering schedule: Every 2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Chinese witch hazel

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	5-6.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	5-8

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Varieties of Chinese witch hazel

Chinese witch hazel 'Brevipetala'

Chinese witch hazel comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Chinese witch hazel 'Brevipetala' is a yellow-flowered cultivar of this species that has very short petals. In fact, "brevipetal" means 'short petals' in Italian. This cultivar is also shorter and more compact than its parent species, growing and spreading to 3 to 3.5 m instead of 4.5 m.

Chinese witch hazel 'Barmstedt Gold'

Chinese witch hazel 'Barmstedt Gold' is named for the northern German town of Barmstedt and also for its attractive golden flowers. These golden flowers, which bloom in late winter and early spring, are what make this attractive hybrid stand out from other witch hazels. This showy garden shrub makes an excellent shrub border or tall hedge.

Japanese witch-hazel 'Aphrodite'

Japanese witch-hazel 'Aphrodite' is a witch hazel that stands out from the rest because of the unusual and attractive orange-red flowers, which have helped it achieve the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Named after the Greek goddess of love, this hybrid is a cross between Japanese and Chinese witch hazels.

Hybrid witchhazel 'Arnold Promise'

Hybrid witchhazel 'Arnold Promise' is distinct for its late-blooming, sweetly fragrant flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring. A cultivar of Hamamelis x intermedia, it gets its name from its origins at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. At a height of 3.5 to 6 m, it grows even taller than other related cultivars and keeps large gardens interesting in winter.

Hybrid witchhazel 'Pallida'

Hybrid witchhazel 'Pallida' is distinct for its abundant yellow flowers that bloom in mid- to late-winter. Its cultivar name comes from those pale flowers. It is among the most popular cultivars of Hamamelis x intermedia for its attractive fall foliage, incredible winter flowering, and its height of 2.5 to 3.5 m.

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More General Info About Chinese witch hazel

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Quickly Identify Chinese witch hazel

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Chinese witch hazel is distinguishable by its delightful fragrance and ornamental qualities. It is a deciduous species, presenting itself either as a substantial shrub or a diminutive tree. The branches exhibit a distinctive zig-zag pattern, with tomentose leaf buds and young twigs, adding a velvety texture to the plant's structure. During the blooming period, one can observe axillary clusters of flowers, each sporting four strap-shaped petals. These flowers emerge before the leaves, providing a striking display against the bare twigs. The pruning of chinese witch hazel after its flowering phase ensures managed growth, allowing it to maintain either its shrubby form or tree-like stature, typically achieving a height of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters).