Author: Mike Darcy

Mike lives and gardens in a suburb of Portland, Oregon where he has resided since 1969. He grew in up Tucson, Arizona where he worked at a small retail nursery during his high school and college years. He received his formal education at the University of Arizona where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture, and though he values his formal education, he values his field-experience more. It is hard to beat the ‘hands on’ experience of actually gardening, visiting gardens, and sharing information with other gardeners. Mike has been involved with gardening communications throughout his adult life. In addition to garden writing, he has done television gardening shows in Portland, and for over 30 years he hosted a Saturday radio talk show in Portland. Now he writes, speaks, gardens and continues to share his love of gardening. To be connected to the gardening industry is a bonus in life for Mike. He has found gardeners to be among the friendliest and most caring, generous people. Consequently, many of his friends he has met through gardening.

Dealing With Pacific Northwest Drought

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had a summer with some of the highest temperatures and least rainfall on record. I believe that we have had more days with temperatures over 90 degrees F since weather temperatures have been recorded. While gardeners here often say we are in a zone of “winter wet and summer dry”, we certainly do not expect the summers to be this dry. Furthermore, not only were the days hot, the night temperatures did not cool down as usually occurs in the summer.

By August, many plants had leaves that had been scorched.

Garden Drought Stress

As a result of the heat and drought, many plants suffered. Plants were wilting even though the soil was wet as it was so hot for certain plants that their roots could not take in moisture to supply the leaves and the leaves wilted as though they did not have adequate moisture. In my own garden, I would water plants in the morning and see them wilting by noon. I would check the soil and it was moist. As plants stressed and leaves wilted, the leaves would often scorch or become sunburned. It became a constant effort to keep the garden looking good and with garden tour groups coming for a visit, I felt it was imperative to keep my plants looking as good as possible.

Since we do not usually have summers like this, many gardeners including myself had planted many plants that require more cool and moist conditions. Hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and azaleas are mainstay plants in many gardens and these are all prone to heat stress. By August, many plants had leaves that had been scorched,

Coir naturally holds water at the root zone, so it proved to be a good amendment for the unusually dry season.

Garden Drought Stress Solutions

In my garden, I also have many plants in containers and having used Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil proved to be a huge benefit. As the summer heat continued, I used Black Gold Just Coir as a top mulch in some of my pots and this was an excellent mulch to help the soil retain moisture. I have learned that coir, which is coconut pith, has amazing water retaining capabilities. In several of my hanging baskets, I had used Black Gold Cocoblend Potting Soil at the time of planting and this was a tremendous asset in keeping these containers from drying out with the summer sun, heat and sometimes dry wind. Black Gold Cocoblend Potting Soil was particularly effective with the fuchsias and begonias which need plenty of moisture and even in September, these plants were full of flowers and looking great.

Mulching our plants is something we can often forget but the benefits of mulch can be enormous. Mulching helps to conserve water and we are all learning that water is not the unlimited resource that it has been. As an added benefit to mulching, when I am planting new plants in the soil, I regularly use Black Gold Soil Conditioner. I mix it in the soil around the root zone and always work some into the top 1-2 inches of soil.

Rhododendrons have suffered badly in the unusual heat and drought of the season.

This was the summer when gardeners began to think about what plants they were planting and what location they were in. I learned that my hydrangeas need a little more shade to look their best and I will be doing some transplanting this fall. There is also a trend to use more plants that have low water requirements like Arctostaphylos (Manzanita), Ceanothus, Mahonia, and many others that have good garden appeal.

We need to remember that in nature, plants get mulched naturally by their leaves, flowers, and stems. In many home gardens, the area under plants is constantly being raked to keep it clean and ‘looking neat’, but we should not forget the role mulch plays in the health of a plant. Learn to know your plants, observe them, and my guess is they will ‘tell’ you if they need a mulch.

Bringing in the Summer Harvest

The summer harvest has certainly arrived here in the Pacific Northwest. With our very dry and hot summer, many fruits and vegetables have ripened several weeks earlier than the norm. I have heard from many gardeners that they are harvesting heirloom tomatoes that usually do not ripen until mid to late August. Those vegetables that love the heat, and have adequate moisture, are thriving with this weather. Beans, melons, squash, and other heat-loving vegetables seem to be producing bumper yields. I had a listener call me last week on my radio program to report that her pumpkins were bright orange and looked like they were ready to be harvested. She said it looked like Halloween!

The raspberry ‘Summit’ is excellent for producing a good crop in the spring and a repeat crop in fall.

Tomatoes

Often, I will caution gardeners about planting some of the large beefsteak tomatoes or other late-ripening varieties because if we have a cool and early season fall, they may not ripen. That has not been an issue this year. Last week two listeners reported that some of the heirloom tomatoes they harvested in late July were varieties such as ‘Azoychka’, ‘Black Krim’, ‘Brandywine’, ‘Brandy Boy’ and ‘Cherokee Purple’. Another listener sent a photo of his Roma ‘San Marzano’ with the notation that they were as big as red bell peppers. They also had the added benefit of organic-rich Black Gold Garden Soil to encourage their success.

In my own garden, I have a very small tomato with small fruits that have proven to be ideal for growing in a pot on our deck. It is called ‘Red Robin’ and even though the plant is small, it has been loaded with tomatoes for several weeks. This is the first year that I have planted it, and I would recommend it for someone with very limited space. I also have some of the Indigo™ series from Oregon State with fruits that turn purple (high in anthocyanins) and then red when ripe.

Fruits

Asian pears seem to be in abundance this summer. I recently visited a garden with several trees, and they were all loaded with fruit, much of it ripening now. This same garden had crops of plums so heavy on the branches that some limbs were cracking.

We often think of raspberries as early summer crops, though many varieties produce in June. However, everbearing varieties are ideal for a late summer crop. The raspberry ‘Summit’ is excellent for producing a good crop in the spring and a repeat crop in fall. They are excellent tasting too and manageable for row planting. If you have abundant space, consider the thornless blackberry ‘Triple Crown’. I say “abundant space” because this plant can have canes reaching 15 ft in one season. The berries are now just beginning to turn black and will be ready for picking shortly.

Beans

Beans are well known in the summer vegetable garden. They are easy to start from seed and make a great plant for young children to grow as an introduction to gardening. The seeds are large, for easy handling by little hands, and they germinate quickly and grow fast. I like the Romano types which have pods that are somewhat flattened with a rich bean flavor.

When planting any vegetable or fruit-producing plant, be sure to plant something that you like. Then take a moment to consider what you will do with excess production. A row of beans can produce far more than most families can eat. Many large-scale gardeners will have a small food dryer, which is another good way to preserve your yields. When there is excess, check in with a local food bank as fresh produce is almost always welcome.

This is such a great time of year to be eating fresh produce that we and/or our neighbors have grown. A tomato picked fresh from the plant is nearly impossible to imitate from a store bought one. Check with your neighbors and see what they are growing and what they might appreciate receiving. As I was leaving a garden visit last week, the owner came out and told me they had a new rule on visitors. One could not leave without taking a zucchini!

Asian pears have had a great season this year!

Spring Rhododendron and Rose Care

Once Rhododendron flowers have died, remove them from the base to stop seed development.

Spring is a good time for some general maintenance pruning on some trees and shrubs. If your rhododendrons have not been deadheaded, it should be done as soon as possible. I have to smile to myself when I use the word ‘deadhead’ as it is commonly used in garden lingo and many of us think everyone understands the meaning but that is not always the case. I once had someone ask me, very seriously, what exactly did I mean when I said ‘deadhead’! And when I paused briefly to consider the question, I could understand their uncertainty.

Beneath each rhododendron bloom lies two leaf buds. Be sure not to cut these off when deadheading your rhododendron.

Deadheading Rhododendrons

To put the word in the context, deadheading rhododendrons means to remove all of the unattractive dead or dying flower clusters. If left on the plant, they will begin to produce seed, which takes energy the plant could be using for growth and vigor. Look closely at the flower cluster, and it will have a stem that attaches to the branch. The flower cluster should be cut or snapped off just above the junction where it meets the branch. Remove the stem carefully because at the base there will be one, or several, new leaf buds forming that will emerge as the present year’s new growth. Be sure not to cut these.

Rhododendrons can also be pruned hard if they have gotten too tall. Pruning after blooming is ideal. If pruning is delayed, the buds for next year’s flowers will develop, and pruning hard will result in few or no flowers the following year. If this has happened, and the plant needs to be pruned for height purposes, hard pruning should not harm the plant but don’t expect flowers.

Summer Rose Care

Cut the stems of hybrid teas lower than normal to regulate shrub size while encouraging more flowering

Hybrid tea roses often grow to six feet or more in one season, which is an unwelcome height in many gardens. It is easy to continually prune roses throughout the season, as flower stems are cut for arrangements, but this may not be enough. So, try cutting flowers and pruning at once. For example, if the desired rose height is four feet, go down the stem to the desired height when cutting a flower. Roses are quite forgiving, and soon new flower buds will follow. The advantage of pruning continuously throughout the season is that there will always be some bloom on some of the plants. We are growing roses for their flowers and everything we can do to encourage flower production and keep the bush the size we want is the ideal goal to strive for.

Pruning Trees & Shrubs in Summer

Sometimes I think it is easier to do spring pruning on deciduous trees and shrubs because it is easier to see what branches need to be removed. Once they have lost their leaves, it can be difficult to remember which branches were well placed and which were not. Home gardeners can also prune and shape spring-flowering shrubs, such as lilac, Korean spice viburnum, and daphne, once flowering has ceased. With shrubs like these, it is essential to prune just after they flower to ensure you don’t remove next year’s flowers.

Prune lilacs just after they have bloomed. (Image by Jessie Keith)

As we head into summer, we have been having some record high temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest with little rain. Many plants are suffering from these temperatures, but some techniques can help. It is not too late to add a mulch of Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil, to help preserve soil moisture. Plants in pots will benefit from this as much as those in the ground. Try it. You will be surprised at the water-holding properties of this mix, and I think your plants will thank you.

The Glorious June Garden

PRS Rose Show 2014 — The Portland Rose Society Rose Show is a late spring event that occurs yearly in early June.

Cussonia spicata (Cabbage Tree) — The newest addition to my garden is a the delicate cabbage tree (Cussonia spicata).

Not that all 12 months are not great for gardening, but for me June is extra special. June is when I have already made many trips to local garden centers, and my containers on the deck and throughout the garden are almost all planted. My summer color baskets are blooming, the roses are at their peak performance, and the hummingbirds are being aggressive over what they perceive as their territory and favorite plants. Our water features have been cleaned and are running, the green tree frogs have returned, and our patio furniture is out on the deck. Plus, we have had more than our usual share of blue skies and sunny days, and we’ve been able to have multiple evening meals on our deck. This all makes me realize just how glorious the month of June can be here in the Pacific Northwest.

It seems as though hostas have been particularly beautiful this spring season. With our mild winter and early warm spring weather, they emerged early and look outstanding. Sometimes we forget how having different, interesting leaf textures and colors can create a beautiful and peaceful scene. I was particularly impressed with a recent garden that I visited with a bed of hostas that created just such a setting with beautiful and distinct leaf textures and colors. This gardener told me that earlier this season. he had applied a mulch of Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil to help hold the moisture around the plants during what is predicted to be a dry summer.

Cornus kousa 'Venus' — Cornus kousa ‘Venus’ has gigantic flowers that appear in my garden in June.

There are many rose shows held throughout the month of June, and visiting one is an excellent way to gain some knowledge on growing roses. Since the roses being exhibited would primarily be from local gardens, they would likely be good performers for your area. Plus, attending a rose show is a good way to meet rose gardeners that are more than happy to share their knowledge. Despite the rose’s reputation of being high maintenance and requiring constant spraying, many new roses have been released that are quite disease resistant. Check with your local garden center on those that meet this requirement.

Dogwood trees provide spectacular blooms during much of June and this gives us an opportunity to see them as they actually grow and flower in a home garden. On a recent visit to the garden of a friend, I was in awe of his Cornus kousa ‘Venus’ in full bloom at the front of his house. The flowers measured 8-9 inches across and with the tree in full bloom, it was magnificent sight. Dogwoods generally like a soil rich in organic matter and adding Black Gold Garden Compost to the soil at the time of planting or as a top mulch on established trees would be beneficial.

Hostas at Joe's — The hostas are most spectacular in June.

I would be remiss without mentioning a new plant in my garden! It is cabbage tree (Cussonia spicata), and I have it in a large pot on our deck. I saw it at a local garden center and was not familiar with it. Since I liked the look, I bought it. I put it in a large pot using Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil and around the base of the tree, I put three small plants of Acacia cognata (dwarf). Even though both plants are perennials, I would not expect them to survive a winter here without protection, so I will think of them as annuals and enjoy them all summer.

If you have some public gardens in your area, be sure to visit them during June. You may see plants being display in a way you have never thought of. Many garden organizations have ‘open gardens’ during June and often non-profit organizations have garden tours. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities, you may meet some new plants and some friendly like-minded people.

Bold Container Gardening

Red Banana and Forest Grass — The glossy red leaves of a potted red banana unfurl amid golden forest grass.

The arrival of May means that in my garden it is time for getting serious about container gardening. This is the time to go to a garden center and look for new and ‘must have’ plants. Last year in one of my articles, I mentioned that I counted the containers throughout my garden and the final tally at that time was 148. Since none have been broken, and a there are a few additions, I will have to get a final count later this season.

Potting Bold Container Plants

When I add new plants to an existing container that has previously been planted, if it is a small container, I take out all of the old soil and add new. If it is a large container, I take out about half of the old, add new and mix it with what is left in the container. My potting mix of choice is OMRI® Listed Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil. On some plants, such as Papyrus, (Cyperus papyrus), that prefer a moist soil, I will use Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil. I have learned that the roots of Papyrus are so vigorous that they will fill up even a large pot with such a thick mass of roots that I need replenish the entire pot with new soil each year. However, by midsummer the plants are so stunning that I don’t mind. I have two pots of Papyrus now, newly planted on my deck, and the plants are so small that it is hard to believe how much they will have grown by midsummer.

Papyrus (Giant) — Giant papyrus make a simple, but dramatic impact in the container garden.

Bold Container Plants

I always get some plants that are new to me for my containers and this season has been no exception. Since we have some areas that are shaded, I bought felt fern (Pyrrosia haslata) and find that these have already drawn attention of visitors. It is a terrestrial fern with smooth-edged fleshy fronds and a felt-like underside. Another new container combination that I planted is cabbage tree (Cussonia spicata) and at the base I planted Acacia Cognata Dwarf, sometimes referred to as ‘Cousin It’ because of the thick and thin branches. I do not expect these to be winter hardy here, especially in a container, but the cabbage tree has such an unusual leaf pattern that I believe will draw attention and in my mind I will consider them both annuals.

Papyrus 5-8-15 — This newly planted papyrus will fill the summer pot in no time!

There are some plants that I continually repeat plant every spring because they are ‘must haves’, and they have become traditional plants for our deck. Several salvias are included in this mix with Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ being a long time favorite. With blue flowers that are now appearing, they will continue to bloom all summer and are a magnet for hummingbirds. A new salvia for me last year was ‘Amistad’, which is similar to ‘Black and Blue’ except the flowers are purple. It is also excellent for attracting hummingbirds. Digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame’ was new to me last year but has already been planted this season. It has continuous blooms on tall stalks, like foxgloves to which it is related, but unlike a foxglove it blooms all summer with yellow centered coral peach flowers. It has proved to be an outstanding plant.

One of the many advantages of container gardening is that pots can be moved around, depending on the season. We had hellebores blooming on our deck containers this winter but have now moved them back part of our garden since their blooming period is over. Summer pots get filled with bold, warm season standbys like red banana, a perennial favorite that’s a real standout with big, glossy, reddish leaves.

What can be planted in a container can be endless, and there are so many wonderful choices for pottery that contrasting the color of the pot with the flowers and/or foliage of a container can make for an eye catching display that can be seasonal.

Island With Pots - Photo by Rich Baer — This “island of pots” shows how creative gardeners can be with bold container plantings!

Garden Soil Amendments and Mixes for Water Retention

stand alone pot — Arm your garden! Amend beds for maximum water retention in preparation for dry summer weather.

With our early spring weather here in the Pacific Northwest, many plants seem to be about two weeks ahead of what we would consider their normal blooming schedule. We have had a season that has been one of the most magnificent for flowering magnolias that I can remember. Roger Gossler from Gossler Farms Nursery in Springfield, Oregon told me that he thought this spring blooming season has been one of the best ever, and Gossler Farms Nursery probably has one of the largest selections of magnolias growing in a private garden in North America.

I mention Magnolias, but they are not the only plants that are either blooming early or have emerged early, like our many herbaceous perennials. Many hostas are in full leaf and looking as they do in May! What does all this mean for gardeners? It means that if we are going to amend our existing soil, the time is now. It is much easier to add garden soil amendment now before our garden beds become covered with foliage that makes it more difficult to actually ‘work’ the soil.

BG Just Coir front — Coir (coconut pith) is one of the best natural amendments for water retention.

Several days ago as I strolled through my garden, I noticed that my Gunnera tinctoria was sending out new stalks. It reminded me that my Gunnera struggled for moisture last year when these plants grow best in moist damp soil. So, I added Black Gold® Just Coir around the base and worked it into the top several inches of soil. Coir is processed coconut pith (coir), which has proven to be an excellent soil amendment for water retention.

Spring is also an excellent time to address hanging baskets and other container plants. Plants in containers tend to dry out much more quickly on a summer day than plants that are in the ground, and the more you are able to amend the soil in spring, the better.

In the many containers that I have in my garden, I always like to add some new potting soil every year. Before planting new flowers, I remove about half of the old soil and add new. My preference for new soil is Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil with RESiLIENCE®. It helps retain moisture and gets plants off to a good start.

For hanging baskets, I have found that they are prone to drying out quickly and sometimes need watering twice a day when the weather is hot and/or there are winds. Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil or Black Gold Moisture Supreme Container Mix with Resilience are ideal for hanging baskets, especially baskets with fuchsias, which require plenty of moisture.

Gunnera early spring — My Gunnera struggled for moisture last year, so I added Black Gold® Just Coir around the base this spring.

For the garden areas where I have shrubs and trees, the soil around established plants benefit from the addition of a garden compost or mulch. One of my favorite mulch amendments is Black Gold Garden Compost Blend. I work this product into the top several inches of soil each spring. It benefits the soil and plants by adding organic matter, loosening clay, and facilitating better drainage.

The use and availability of water has become a critical concern in many parts of the United States, and the Pacific Northwest is not immune to these concerns. While our rainfall has been about normal, the snowpack in the mountains has been far below what is typically expected. The lack of snowpack means that our reservoirs will not have the reserves they need for the summer months when water use is at its highest. By taking some steps now, we can help reduce our summer garden water requirements and still have a lush garden.

Choice Flowering Crabapples

Prairifire Crab flower 03 — Beautiful pink spring blooms, lovely red fruit, and outstanding fall color make ‘Prairifire’ a choice crabapple.

For many years, flowering crabapples have gotten a bad rap. This has been especially true for home gardeners unwilling to spray for diseases. The lack of reliable products for disease control hasn’t helped either. Flowering crabapples are prone to four primary diseases: scab, fire blight, cedar-apple rust, and powdery mildew. Trees in the Pacific Northwest generally tend to be most susceptible to scab. (The leaves of scab-infected trees develop pale yellow spots that eventually turn black — not a pretty sight!) Thankfully, crabapple breeding is turning around, which is good news for home gardeners. Continue reading “Choice Flowering Crabapples”

Winter Indoor Gardening with Mike Darcy

Phalenopsis g. Reve Rose — We have a lot of orchids in our home that bloom throughout the year. (Photo by Jessie Keith)

While house plants are not generally something that we have many of in our house, we do have several, one of which is a very tough survivor. I enjoy seeing them in other homes that I visit and my wife will often bring home one that is temporary and often related to a particular season. The exception to this would be orchids, which we often have blooming throughout the year.

The puffy blooms of Dracaena fragrans are sweetly fragrant.

Corn Plant

When I mentioned ‘tough survivor’, I was referring to the corn plant (Dracaena fragrans), which my wife bought many years ago. It has not only survived but thrived in our house in spite of often being neglected. The corn plant gets its name from the fact that the leaves look similar to the corn that we grow as a food crop, and quite often plants will have a yellow stripe in the center of each leaf. The plant we have is situated by a window and gets filtered light but no direct sunlight. With their long leaves and erect stems, which can reach 6 ft in length, it can make quite a statement in a room.

While I knew corn plant was a Dracaena, I had never thought about the possibility that it might bloom until I received this letter from a listener to my radio program.

“Two years ago my husband purchased this corn plant for its foliage and neither of us had any idea that it bloomed. Last March we observed blossoms forming but the real surprise came a week later. At dusk we would begin to smell a wonderful almost hyacinth or heavy lilac-like fragrance creeping through the house that lasted most of the night. For well over 2 weeks we enjoyed the blooms and increasing fragrance with approaching night.”

Curious, I then looked up the name and discovered it was Dracaena fragrans, with ‘fragrans’ meaning fragrant. It was a very pleasant learning moment and reminded me that my own plant was in dire need of being replenished with new soil. I took it outdoors and lifted it out of the pot it had been in for many years and shook much of the old soil off. Then I repotted it in Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil, and my plant has since thanked me many times.

Staghorn Fern

A group of plants that are sometimes seen in local garden centers are staghorn ferns, (Platycerium spp). These have always interested me, and in our Pacific Northwest climate they can be grown outside in the summer. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, and in their native rain forest environment they grow attached to tree trunks, though they are not parasitic. We see them in garden centers attached and growing on boards and sometimes on pieces of bark from a tree. Growing outdoors, they need shade or filtered sunlight. Last year I was given one that was growing in a hanging basket, and I hung it from an iron hanger under the shade of fir trees. It thrived and, not wanting to lose it, I brought it indoors before cold weather arrived, and it has continued to thrive. It makes a very dramatic statement in the house.

White Jasmine

White jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) can be a risky plant to grow outdoors here in the winter, but it makes a wonderfully fragrant house plant. They are usually sold in bud and/or bloom, and the white flowers provide long-lasting color and fragrance that lasts for several weeks. They are often sold and marketed around holidays, such as the one in my house with red ribbon for Valentine’s Day.

Since all plants grow outdoors in some part of the world, we need to experiment with those that can adapt to being grown in the home. Conditions in a house vary widely and some plants may perform well in one room and not another. Many gardeners will grow winter-tender plants outdoors in the summer and then use them indoors for the winter. For those with small-space gardens, or those living in apartments or condominiums, a combination of house plants and outdoor potted plants can provide a sense of a garden throughout the year. Whether one gardens indoors or outdoors, or perhaps a combination of both, part of the fun of gardening is experimenting.

Jasmines are wonderfully fragrant and popularly sold during winter holidays. — Jasmine flowers are wonderfully fragrant and popularly sold during winter holidays.

Which Winter Witch Hazel Should You Grow?

The coppery flowers of Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena' are very fragrant and pretty. (image by Jessie Keith) — The coppery flowers of *Hamamelis* x *intermedia* ‘Jelena’ are very fragrant and pretty. (Image by Jessie Keith)

Take a random survey of 10 neighbors and asked the question: “When you hear the words ‘witch hazel’, what do you think of?” For most, the answer will not be a plant. They will probably say something like: “That stuff you find at the drug store for skin care.” I did ask several neighbors this question, and not one mentioned the beautiful landscape shrub gardeners revere. When I told my neighbors that the word also refers to a plant, most said: “Gardeners live in their own world.”

DSCN3682 — The primrose yellow flowers of *Hamamelis* x *intermedia* ‘Arnold Promise’ are large and fragrant.

It is probably true that gardeners can easily get caught up in their own world, and talking about witch hazel is a good example. To gardeners, the name refers to a wonderful group of shrubs in the genus Hamamelis. Many of these are late-winter bloomers that bring needed color to the garden.

Witch Hazel Care

Winter witch hazel are one of the earliest shrubs to bloom. They are also easy, low maintenance plants that require little care once established. They like a rich organic soil, and the addition of OMRI Listed Black Gold Garden Soil would be ideal to work into the soil at planting time. They grow best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Afternoon shade is best because it protects plants from hot afternoon sun in summer. Pruning is not recommended because these plants develop a beautiful natural habit, so plant them where they will have lots of space to grow.

Hybrid Witch Hazel Varieties

Most of the witch hazel plants found in garden centers will be hybrids (Hamamelis x intermedia). These common hybrids come in lots of excellent varieties. As a general rule, witch hazels grow to 12-15 feet tall and have a spreading growth habit. They are deciduous plants with flowers that bloom before the foliage appears, which adds to their striking winter appearance.

The flowers are fragrant, so consider placing them in an area where their fragrance can be noticed. Bees are attracted to the blooms, making them valuable winter plants for early pollinators. The flowers of some varieties are more fragrant than others, so I suggest going to a garden center when the plants are in bloom and giving them a sniff test. In addition to early flowering and fragrance, most witch hazels have beautiful fall color in shades of red, gold, purple, and orange.

A suite of hybrid witch hazels light up the winter landscape. (Image by Jessie Keith)

Popular cultivars that are probably available at your local garden centers include:

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’– January-February bloomer with bright yellow flowers and excellent fall leaf color

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ (syn. ‘Coppery Beauty’) — popular early January bloomer, with coppery orange flowers

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ — red flowers in January-February, reddish purple fall foliage

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Sunburst’ — one of the brightest yellow flowers an any witch hazel

Other Witch Hazels

And now back to the source of the medicinal witch hazel, which is derived from common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). This native plant is found in the eastern United States and was first used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans. The bark and branches are harvested to make the witch hazel that we find in pharmacies. This plant has small, fragrant, yellow flowers that appear in the fall. Sometimes they are obscured by persistent fall leaves that fail to drop before bloom time.

Another eastern native witch hazel for the garden is the Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis). Like the hybrids, this is a late-winter bloomer with lovely golden flowers that are fragrant. It also has an appealing, broad habit that looks nice in landscapes. Its golden-orange fall color also adds great appeal.

Those that would like some early winter color and fragrance should consider winter-flowering witch hazels for their landscape or garden. For some summer color, try planting a Clematis at the base of your witch hazel. Train the Clematis to wind through its branches and surprise your neighbors when the flowers appear.

An excellent mail order nursery for Hamamelis is Gossler Farms Nursery, 1200 Weaver Road, Springfield, OR 97478. You can get a copy of their catalog by calling 541/746-3922.

Winter Flowering Plants

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' — *Viburnum* x *bodnantense* ‘Dawn’ adds delightful fragrance and color to the winter garden. (photo by Leonard Foltz)

Recently a friend asked me what my garden looks like during the winter months. I replied that it is “rather bleak”. After thinking about my reply, I decided to take a closer look at my own garden and those around my neighborhood. I am glad that I did because my garden is not as bleak as I thought. This is the time of year when we are not working in our gardens and probably not even walking through them, and so it is easy to forget about some of the winter flowering plants and color they hold. Continue reading “Winter Flowering Plants”

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