EcoBlog
The latest thinking on ecological landscapes. Useful tips to improve our environment
Spotlight on Great Native Plants: Vernal Witch-hazel
Vernal Witch-hazel aka Spring Witch-hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) is one of our earliest blooming native shrubs, flowering as early as January, but often in February or March. Its orange, red or yellow flowers can appear while snow is still on the ground, and hug tightly onto the leafless branches. The spicy, sweet fragrance of the flowers will often lure you even before you spot the showy flowers. This hardy plant is native to rocky stream banks and sand bars Ozark plateau of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Hamamelis vernalis has a very long bloom time, as long as 4 weeks, and offers a pollen and nectar reward to any small native bees, honey bees or gnats who may venture out on the occasional warm and sunny winter day. The plant grows well in moist to wet, slightly acidic soil, in zones 4 to 8 and it is happiest in part sun to part shade. You can expect the mature size to be from 6 to 12 feet high by 6 to 15 ft wide.
Let us know what you have blooming in your garden right now and what state are you in!
Happy Winter Gardening from Kim Eierman at EcoBeneficial!
Photo: Hamamelis vernalis
Photo credit: Flickr/JimthePhotographer
www.flickr.com/photos/jcapaldi/8416970821/sizes/z/in/photostream/
More from EcoBlog
Planting in the Dog Days of Summer?
The hot and humid days of summer are certainly not ideal for planting, but you can plant in summer with some special care and vigilance, if conditions allow. Maybe you just found a fantastic plant you have been looking for, or, perhaps you didn’t get around to planting some native…
“Looking for Mr. Goodbar” – The Quest to Find Male Native Plants
While searching for native plants for clients this season, I have once again encountered the annoying challenge of trying to find male pollinators for female plants when plants are dioecious (male and female plants). Conventional nurseries and native nurseries alike often fail to deliver the goods. It’s a serious problem…
My Brugmansia: A Native Plant Geek Goes AWOL
It started innocently enough. While volunteering at a plant sale held by Lasdon Park, a local arboretum, I spotted a dozen or so lanky, young Brugmansias for sale. The plant-loving staff, had scored these tropical wonders, offering them for sale amid a treasure trove of native and ornamental trees and shrubs.…