Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

An almost Wordless Wednesday: Hamamelis virginiana

Is blooming in my Middle Tennessee garden right now.

It's a splendid little native tree that is too often overlooked for its flashier Asian relatives. How any one could think this tree unlovely or unworthy of a place in their garden is beyond my understanding!

The crepe papery blooms look especially enchanting with a backdrop of golden Shagbark hickory and Hophornbeam leaves and the Autumn blue sky!

xoxogail

PS I've written about witch hazels several times and you can read their story at Wildflower Wednesday: In praise of a native tree and When a tree blooms in Autumn.

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

21 comments:

  1. Beautiful Autumn color!
    Have a great day!
    Lea

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  2. I love these spidery blooms. They look so delicate yet are so hardy.

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  3. Gail it was your posts about your witch hazel that prompted me to get mine. I has gone from a barely 1 foot twig to 3 feet...now if it would only bloom. One day!

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    1. It will...I find that it will set bud better if it gets enough moisture

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  4. Beautiful photograph Gail, the flowers look so delicate. That seems really early to be in flower but the weather patterns and flowering times all seem a bit confused this year.

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    1. This is when it blooms every year, but there's another one that blooms in late winter~H vernalis. Oh my is that bloom ever welcome in January!

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  5. And, they smell great right? Lovely little tree.~~Dee

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  6. Witch Hazel is fabulous, Gail. I don't have any in my garden, but it's fun to see when hiking or at botanical gardens and arboretums. And of course on your blog! Great photos!

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  7. So...it blooms in the fall and then sets seed on bare branches?

    Just trying to imagine the yearly cycle...

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    1. The flower buds form in late summer and autumn.

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  8. Ever since I saw your first post on your witch hazel I've wanted one, but sigh, I still haven't gotten around to planting one. Love those sweet blooms!

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    1. Fall is a good time to plant one Rose! Go for it! xoxo

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  9. I love the witch hazel. Around here in Mass. I have only seen the early spring bloomer

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  10. Gail, not only do I remember your first post on this hamamelis Virginians, but I remember that it was planted in memory of your mom. I always think I f her when I see this tree! And I would like to get one, and I think it would thrive here, in memory of my mother-in-law. :-)

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  11. Beautiful! I'm pretty sure ours are not blooming yet, they are still loaded with leaves.

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  12. Been on my wish list for ages, and I only remember when I see photos like yours! I agree, must have plant!

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  13. Love this species and in contrast to the asian varieties they bloom in fall when many other plants are shutting down for the year. That's a win in my books!

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  14. I've been meaning to add this plant to my garden for years. This year will be the year!

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  15. I need to find a spot for this in my garden, as I continue my quest to have blooms in every month of the year.

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