Witch Hazel

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29891, 3 August 1962, Page 6

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is the name given to the members of the genus Hamamellis. This genus has about six species; one comes from Japan, another from China, and the remainder from North America.

In England, the European hazel (Corylus avellina) was used for divining rods. Early settlers to North America, on finding Hamamellis, were struck by its resemblance to the European hazel and made use of its twigs to divine the presence of water. This apparent magical power led to its present name of .witch hazel. When the Japanese and Chinese species were discovered in the nineteenth century, they were given the common names of Japanese and Chinese witch hazel.

The Chinese witch hazel, or Hamamellis mollis, is the only species in common cultivation in New Zealand, although the other species are probably represented in Botanic Gardens. It is a large shrub or small tree which has widely-spreading branches. The leaves are

heart-shaped with uneven sides; they turn yellow before they fall in the autumn. Flowers, produced during the winter from the end of June to September, are golden yellow and very fragrant They appear in clusters and consist of narrow, strap-like petals which are quite distinctive.

It is very hardy and the flowers, when opened, will withstand very low temperatures without suffering any damage. A cool, well-drained soil that is free from lime suits the shrub best. When in full flower it is a very beautiful sight and its fragrance fills the air. It is a highly desirable plant and well worth its place in any garden.

Propagation is by means of seed or layers while soft wood cuttings will root under conditions of high humidity. Whichever method is used, increase is slow and takes a long time, which is one of the reasons why tills shrub is expensive and not available in large quantities.