Spring blooming witch hazel in the garden

Maybe it’s because the flowers of my witch hazel (Hamamelis) tree are the first flowers I see in spring.  Maybe it’s because witch hazel doesn’t care if there’s snow on the ground when it blooms.  Maybe it’s because witch hazel has flowers that are different from any other plant I grow.  Maybe it’s because, when in bloom, the whole tree is covered with sunny yellow flowers in the midst of winter.  Or maybe it’s all of these that make witch hazel a favorite in my garden.

Each day when I open the blinds to let the sunlight in, I take a moment to look at the witch hazel tree nearby.  These days, it’s covered with buds preparing to open because this particular witch hazel is the spring-blooming kind.  On warmer days, I can see bits of yellow on the buds, but when the temperature drops, the buds tighten, waiting just a little longer to bloom.

Witch hazel cuttings with buds about to open.

For anyone wanting an early taste of spring, witch hazel branches make an excellent candidate for forced blooming.  Grab a pair of pruners or loppers and head outdoors to do some late winter pruning in your garden.  Keeping in mind that once cut, you can’t put the branch back in place, so select a branch that won’t be missed.  Those that have grown in an inconvenient direction or cross another branch (likely leading to damage in the future) are good choices.  Larger branches can be trimmed to a size more convenient for a vase once indoors.

To force branches into bloom, first prepare a vase of room temperature water.  Trim branches to the desired size and cut into the base of the cutting or break the bottom inch or two with a hammer.  Place branches in the water-filled vase. Put the vase in indirect sunlight and wait.

Soon the buds will open, revealing witch hazel’s spidery flowers—a taste of spring if ever there was one.

You can find more about forcing branches here:  https://www.uvm.edu/extension/news/forcing-branches-winter-flowers.

As far as harbingers of spring are concerned, witch hazel is a sure sign. 

Forced witch hazel branches in bloom

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