Common Name: witch hazel
Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Spread: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: February to March
Bloom Description: Red
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Hedge
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Leaf: Good Fall
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Erosion, Clay Soil, Air Pollution
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best flowering is in full sun. Prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils. Consistent moisture is best (leaf scorch may occur during periods of summer drought). Shrubs have some tolerance for clay soils as long as drainage is good. Promptly remove root suckers to prevent colonial spread. It is particularly important to remove root suckers rising from below a graft union. Prune in spring after flowering to control shape and size.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hamamelis is a genus of 5 to 6 species of deciduous shrubs from East Asia and North America. They are grow for their very early late winter through early spring bloom (H. virginiana flowers in autumn.) Plant them where you can enjoy their very early flowers and showy, yellow fall color.
Genus name comes from the Greek words hama meaning at same time and melon meaning apple or fruit in reference to the occurrence of both fruit and flowers at the same time on this shrub (particularly in the case of fall flowering members of the genus).
'Danny' is considered to be a hybrid cross between Hamamelis x intermedia (H. japonica x H. mollis) and Hamamelis vernalis. It typically grows as a spreading vase-shaped shrub to 8-10' tall and as wide. Showy dark red flowers with a spicy aroma bloom in axillary clusters along the bare stems in mid- to late winter (February-March in St. Louis) before the spring foliage emerges. Each flower has four, narrow, ribbon-like, slightly twisted and curled petals (each to 1/2" long) which are red at the base transitioning to pale red at the tip. Calyx cup is purple-red. Ovate-rounded leaves (to 4" long) emerge gray-green in spring but mature to medium green. Leaves acquire some red and orange tones in fall. Fruit is a dehiscent capsule.
Problems
Caterpillars and Japanese beetles may chew on the leaves. Watch for gall aphids, scale, leafroller and leafminer. Potential diseases include powdery mildew, occasional leaf spots and rots. Insect and disease issues are typically not serious and rarely warrant chemical control.
Uses
Excellent winter-flowering shrub for the landscape. Shrub borders, woodland gardens. Screen or tall hedge. Good specimen.