Embracing Witch Hazel: A Year-Round Garden Delight

Poets of old used the short lyrical poetic form of an ‘Ode’ to praise. I’m praising a native Witch Hazel blooming ‘out of season’.

Because of Design it Works in Any Season

As a garden designer, I choose plants and hardscape to create a landscape that’s beautiful. It’s also functional and eco-friendly. My design work specializes in flower gardens that embrace natives and pollinators. The design uses planting compositions that bloom in seasonal sequence. Image my surprise at seeing a spring blooming shrub blooming in November!

Enjoying the unexpected lushness of the Witch Hazel’s bloom. (Note the container planted in a meadow style this year. I’ve left it to linger for a while and it totally works with the blooming Witch Hazel.)

A few days later with a late fall container arrangement.

Early Morning Wonder

One early November morning, I opened my door. I was greeted and amazed to see the Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’ lushly blooming in late fall. After all, it’s variety that is “supposed to” bloom in late winter/early spring. For the last many years, the top half of this shrub has been blooming in late fall. The lower part blooms in early spring. And, I resented its renegade mindset. I wanted its glory in February, March, or April (depending on the winter) and felt robbed!

This year, I found myself responding differently. I’m not sure why. Because it’s so lush. But I found myself appreciating its color. I enjoyed its shape, texture, and role in the entry garden “room” I designed. I took moments to enjoy its cheerful flowering in November. During this time, the rest of the garden sheds leaves and goes dormant.

Witch Hazel Notes

I love the way it’s botanical name rolls of my tongue. Hamamelis. When blooming in the spring, some think it a very early Forsythia because it’s color is bright yellow. But it’s upright habit and flower shapes are different.

It grows about 10′ tall and wide. And, works very well in a small space garden. Here, this native pollinator, helps to the screen the neighbors and create an outdoor room. I underplanted it with a Vinca groundcover that keeps its leaves year round. It’s lush in winter and blooms with blue flowers in early spring. The groundcover also acts to keep the space around the shrub feeling open, but green. That’s important in an entry garden.,

You can see how the form of the Witch Hazel works with the shrubs I’ve mixed it with. Varied sizes, shapes, and leaf types. Note the late blooming ‘Clara Curtis’ Daisy. The combinations are intentional and a large part of Garden Planting Design.

Witch Hazel’s Role in Garden Design

As a designer, planting along a driveway, I want to keep the psychological space open. Don’t want to feel that the plants are a wall you’re opening car doors and stepping into. The Witch Hazel’s form works well with this intention. The shape and color of its leaves in summer complement the design. In fall, they also work in combination with the other plants.

Colors and Textures Enchant

Enchanted, I’m really enjoying its habit of blooming out of season. I feel refreshed and joyful after looking at the shapes, details, pattern, and color contrasts. As a garden designer, the detail is intentional. As a human it makes my day!

Emerging blossoms in contrast with the vivid fall color of the Dogwood Tree.

The blooms look totally differently paired with the Rhododendron.

Take a Moment to Linger and ‘De-Stress’

Gardens do more than make your house look good and make pretty pictures. They also offer the opportunity to take a moment to pause. Linger. Engage one’s attention and senses.

Many Parts to Landscape Design

Designing landscape and gardens uses many types of patterns. Pattern includes the way people and cars travel. It also involves plant shapes, roof lines, and facades. There is a focus on contrasting color, mass, and form. Additionally, it considers the shifting of the seasons and changing light.

The role of the Witch Hazel in this garden highlights the pattern of contrasting color, mass, and form. It also adds to seasonal flowering. It’s bloom delights all at this shoulder season of late fall. Yet it is only one detail of the whole design.

Now is a Great Time to Start Designing your Beautiful Garden

Email me to start the design process. MvonBrinckenLGD@gmail.com

Beautiful Landscapes and Flower Gardens. One-of a-kind gardens crafted for your delight–beautiful, functional, and earth-friendly.