Hybrid Witch Hazel

Hybrid witch hazel is the shrub that blooms in the dead of winter, January and February in Western Washington, when almost nothing else is flowering. The blooms are small but extraordinary: clusters of spidery, ribbon-like petals in yellow, orange, copper, or red, unfurling on bare branches with a sweet fragrance that carries on cold air. These are hybrids between the Japanese and Chinese witch hazels, combining the best flowering qualities of both parents. They grow ten to fifteen feet tall with a vase-shaped to spreading form and develop excellent fall color in orange, red, and yellow.

In Western Washington, hybrid witch hazel performs well in sun to part shade with moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, conditions that characterize many residential sites in the region. 'Jelena' produces copper-orange flowers and some of the best fall color in the genus. 'Arnold Promise' is the standard yellow-flowered selection, blooming heavily and reliably. 'Diane' offers red flowers. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The practical consideration is space and patience: witch hazels grow slowly and need room to develop their natural form, do not shear them into geometric shapes or crowd them against a foundation. Plant one where you walk past it in winter and can appreciate the flowers and fragrance when you need them most.