Witch Hazel Hamamelis × intermedia 'Frederic'
ABOUT
Witch Hazel 'Frederic' is a striking ornamental plant that stands out with its unique flowering habit and attractive foliage. It is known for its vibrant, colorful blooms which appear during the late winter to early spring when many other plants are dormant. The flowers of Witch Hazel 'Frederic' are distinctive, with narrow, ribbon-like petals that curl slightly at the edges. These petals can range in color from a sunny yellow to a warm orange and sometimes exhibit a reddish hue at the base, giving them a fiery appearance. The blossoms cluster along the slender, woody branches, creating a delightful contrast against the winter backdrop. After flowering, the plant develops broad, oval leaves that are medium to dark green in color. These leaves grow densely, creating a lush canopy during the spring and summer months. When autumn comes, the foliage transforms, showcasing a dazzling display of yellow, orange, and reddish-purple colors before they fall, making the plant a year-round point of interest in the garden. Witch Hazel 'Frederic' has a growth habit that creates an open, airy structure with well-spaced branches that can provide an attractive silhouette in the landscape. Though details about its size are omitted in this description, the overall appearance of the plant with its combination of spectacular flowers, changing foliage, and pleasant structure makes it a favored choice for gardeners looking to add winter interest and year-round beauty to their garden settings.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Hamamelidaceae
Synonyms
Witch Hazel, Hybrid Witch Hazel, Winterbloom
Common names
Hamamelis × intermedia 'Frederic'.
ToxicityTo humans
Witch Hazel 'Frederic' is not commonly known to be toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of this plant is unlikely to cause severe poisoning. However, as with many plants, individual sensitivities and allergic reactions can occur. If adverse effects are noticed after ingestion, medical attention should be sought.
To pets
Witch Hazel 'Frederic' is generally considered non-toxic to pets. It is not known to cause severe poisoning if pets ingest parts of the plant. However, gastrointestinal upset can occur if pets consume large amounts of any non-food plant material. If signs of distress are observed after ingestion, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Yellow
Height
10-15 feet [3-4.5 meters]
Spread
10-15 feet [3-4.5 meters]
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
5-8
Native area
Asia
Benefits
General Benefits- Attractive Flowers: The Witch Hazel 'Frederic' produces vibrant, fragrant flowers in late winter to early spring, adding color to the garden when few other plants are in bloom.
- Winter Interest: Its flowering period during the colder months provides visual interest in a seasonally dormant garden.
- Attracts Wildlife: The flowers attract pollinators such as bees, which are important for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
- Autumn Foliage: It features attractive golden-yellow foliage in the fall, which provides seasonal beauty and landscape interest.
- Low Maintenance: Witch Hazel 'Frederic' is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it can tolerate periods of drought, making it suitable for gardens in areas with water restrictions.
- Architectural Shape: With its vase-like growth habit, it can serve as an eye-catching specimen or focal point in garden design.
- Versatility: It can be used in a variety of landscaping situations, including borders, woodland gardens, and as a background plant.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Photography: Witch Hazel 'Frederic' branches can be used as detail in close-up photography thanks to their textured bark and vibrant flowers, providing a natural and colorful backdrop.
- Artistic Inspiration: Artists may use the striking blooms and structure of the Witch Hazel 'Frederic' as inspiration for botanical drawings, paintings, or as a model for sculpture work.
- Dye Production: The tannins in the leaves and bark could potentially be used to produce natural dyes for textiles or crafts.
- Winter Interest: In regions with dull winters, Witch Hazel 'Frederic' can be grown for its flowers that bloom in late winter, adding color and vivacity to drab garden landscapes.
- Education: Botanical gardens and horticultural programs might utilize Witch Hazel 'Frederic' as an educational tool due to its interesting hybrid origins and winter blooming characteristics.
- Fragrance Sourcing: While not commonly utilized, the flowers could potentially be used to create light, naturally scented oils or fragrances.
- Culinary Decor: Edible varieties of Witch Hazel flowers can serve as an unusual and decorative addition to culinary dishes, although care should be taken as not all varieties are edible.
- Crafting: Dried Witch Hazel 'Frederic' branches and flowers can be used for making wreaths, dried floral arrangements, or as part of holiday decorations.
- Cultural Symbolism: In some cultures, Witch Hazel is associated with protection and soothing; 'Frederic' could be involved in cultural practices or ceremonies that relate to these beliefs.
- Privacy Screening: With proper cultivation, Witch Hazel 'Frederic' can be trained as a natural privacy screen due to its dense foliage and growth habit.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiWitch Hazel is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityWitch Hazel is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Resilience: As a winter-flowering plant, witch hazel symbolizes resilience and the ability to endure challenging conditions.
- Protection: Historically, witch hazel has been used for its medicinal properties, offering the idea of protection and healing.
- Uniqueness: With its distinctive ribbon-like petals, witch hazel represents the uniqueness and the beauty of standing out.
- Purification: The plant has been associated with cleansing and purity, due to its astringent qualities.
WaterWitch Hazel 'Frederic' prefers moist but well-drained soil, requiring regular watering. During the growing season, water this shrub deeply once or twice a week, relying on rainfall whenever possible. In the absence of rain, provide about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per week, making sure to soak the root zone thoroughly. During winter, you can reduce the frequency, but do not let the ground dry out completely. It's vital to avoid overwatering to prevent root rot, so ensure the soil is not soggy.
LightWitch Hazel 'Frederic' thrives in full sun to partial shade. The ideal spot for this plant would be where it receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight, with some afternoon shade in hotter regions. Avoid deep shade as this can reduce flowering and lead to a less vigorous plant.
TemperatureWitch Hazel 'Frederic' is hardy and can tolerate a wide temperature range, but it grows best when the temperature is between 30°F and 75°F. It can withstand winter cold down to about -20°F and summer heat up to around 90°F. Ensure to protect it from extreme temperature fluctuations, which could be damaging.
PruningWitch Hazel 'Frederic' benefits from pruning to shape the plant, encourage healthy growth, and remove any dead or diseased branches. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth appears, typically once a year. Cut back the previous year's shoots to two to three buds from the base to promote vigorous blooms.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe Witch Hazel 'Frederic' thrives in well-draining, loamy soil that is rich in organic matter. A soil mix containing equal parts garden soil, peat or leaf mold, and perlite or coarse sand is ideal. The optimal pH for Witch Hazel is slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 5.5 to 7.0.
RepottingWitch Hazel 'Frederic' is typically a slow-growing shrub and does not need frequent repotting if planted in the ground. If grown in containers, repotting every 3-4 years should be sufficient to refresh soil conditions and provide room for growth.
Humidity & MistingWitch Hazel 'Frederic' is tolerant of a wide range of humidity conditions and does not require high humidity to thrive. It will do well in average outdoor humidity levels.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure bright, indirect light and cool temperatures for indoor Witch Hazel.
Outdoor
Plant Witch Hazel in partial shade and shelter it from strong winds.
Hardiness zone
5-8 USDA
Life cycleWitch Hazel 'Frederic' begins its life cycle when a seed germinates, typically in spring, after undergoing a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. The seedling establishes a root system and grows its first leaves, entering the juvenile vegetative stage. As the plant matures, it develops a woody stem and branches, reaching the adult vegetative stage, where it focuses on growing in size and developing its distinctive broad leaves. Once mature, usually after several years, it enters the reproductive stage and starts producing fragrant yellow to red flowers, usually in late winter to early spring before the leaves emerge, which are pollinated by insects. Following pollination and fertilization, seed capsules develop and mature through the summer and autumn, eventually opening to release seeds for dispersal, completing the reproductive cycle. The plant reenters a period of dormancy in winter, with leaf drop, before resuming growth in the following spring.
PropogationPropogation time
Early Spring
The most popular method of propagating Hamamelis × intermedia 'Frederic', commonly known as the hybrid witch hazel, is by softwood cuttings. This is typically done in late spring to early summer. To propagate, select healthy, new growth that is not yet firm; this often means stems that are 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 centimeters) long. Cuttings should be taken with a clean, sharp tool and the leaves on the lower half of the stem should be removed. The cut end is then dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development and inserted into a moistened mixture of peat and perlite. The cutting should be kept under humid conditions, either in a misting environment or by covering with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity. Roots will typically develop within six to eight weeks, after which the new plant can be transplanted into potting soil.
