Even in winter, the witch hazel does not require a lot of care. On frost-free days you can occasionally water the plant a little so that it does not die of thirst and the root ball does not dry out. Fertilizer is not needed at this time of year.
The witch hazel usually blooms from December
When do witch hazel flowers open?
The special thing about witch hazel, as witch hazel is called in Latin, is that its flowering time is in the middle of winter. Depending on the variety and the weather, the buds open from December.
Filigree flowers with narrow petals up to 4 cm long appear. Their shape is reminiscent of colorful spiders. The color palette ranges from soft or bright yellow to orange and deep red.
An exception is the Virginian witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), because it flowers from the end of October. The Hamamelis virginiana is also the only variety that is used medicinally or in homeopathy. Its areas of application include various skin diseases and minor injuries, because witch hazel has an anti-inflammatory, astringent (contracting) and styptic effect.
Does witch hazel bloom reliably?
If the witch hazel is not happy with its location or the environmental conditions, then it will not flower. It's probably getting too little light or water. It should therefore be watered in summer when it is dry before the root ball dries out. Even in the first winter after planting, witch hazel often does not bloom. It takes a lot of time to get used to and to grow.
The essentials in brief:
- very hardy
- Flowering time of most varieties in winter
- Hamamelis virginiana flowers in autumn
- the petals curl up in frost
- no special winter care required
- Water occasionally on frost-free days
- do not fertilize
- Ensure sufficient water supply in summer, otherwise there will be no flowering
tips
Even if the petals curl up in heavy frost, the witch hazel is usually not damaged because it is very hardy.