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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Winter bloomer trumps elements


The common witch hazel, including this one blooming in Finch Arboretum right now, is an intriguing shrub with many therapeutic uses. Special to 
 (SUSAN MULVIHILL Special to / The Spokesman-Review)

Quick! Name a shrub that blooms in the middle of the winter here in Spokane. If you said the witch hazel, I’m very impressed. If, however, your mind went blank, don’t worry because you probably have a lot of company.

Witch hazels, also known as Winter Bloom for this very reason, are slow growers that reach a mature height of 10 to 15 feet, so are often referred to as trees.

They are deciduous and have leaves that grow in an alternating pattern. Witch hazels have wonderful autumn colors, with their leaves turning from yellow to orange. The trunks and branches are a grayish-brown color.

There are three varieties that will grow in the Inland Northwest: hybrid witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia), vernal witch hazel (H. vernalis) and common witch hazel (H. virginiana).

These shrubs have yellow, crumpled-looking flowers that bloom from winter to spring and have the ability to close up when the temperatures get especially cold. The flowers are fragrant and will eventually turn brown.

One fascinating aspect of the witch hazel is that it is the only shrub in North America that has flowers, ripe fruit and the following year’s leaf buds on its branches at the same time. That explains its scientific name of Hamamelis which means “together with fruit.” Each seedpod bursts open in warm weather, shooting two seeds quite a distance. This trait has led to another alternate name, snapping hazel, and makes me wonder if they are hazardous to be around when these explosions take place!

If you are considering propagating witch hazels by seed, be forewarned that they take two years to germinate. That requires one very patient gardener. They can also be propagated by taking softwood cuttings.

Witch hazel is commonly used in skin care products and for therapeutic purposes such as for burns, hemorrhoids and inflammation. Native Americans have long used witch hazel as poultices to treat swelling and stop bleeding. If you’d like to look at these shrubs, there are some growing in Finch Arboretum, west of the parking lot.