Marvel

Witch hazels are a captivating addition to any garden, offering year-round interest with their fragrant winter blooms, stunning fall color, and unique branching structure. At our nursery, we carry some of the finest cultivars of Hamamelis × intermedia: ‘Primavera,’ ‘Jelena,’ ‘Diane,’ and ‘Arnold’s Promise.’ For a beautiful display, a visit to the Polly Hill Arboretum is highly recommended, where their well-established collection showcases these plants in full bloom.

Seasonal Interest

WINTER BLOOMS : One of the most enchanting qualities of Hamamelis × intermedia is its ability to bloom in mid- to late winter, long before other plants awaken from dormancy. Its delicate, ribbon-like flowers emerge in shades of yellow, copper, orange, and red, depending on the cultivar, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

SPRING & SUMMER APPEAL : As spring arrives, witch hazels leaf out with fresh green foliage, blending seamlessly into a woodland setting. They serve as a lovely backdrop for later-blooming perennials and shrubs.

FALL COLOR : Come autumn, witch hazel foliage transforms into a vibrant display of gold, orange, and red. This seasonal transition adds another dimension to their beauty, making them a true multi-season performer.

YEAR-ROUND STRUCTURE : Even in winter, their distinctive branching pattern provides architectural interest in the landscape, making them a valuable addition for structure and texture.

Growing & Care

Sunlight: Best flowering occurs in full sun, but witch hazels can also tolerate partial shade.

Soil: Prefers moist, acidic, and organically rich soils for optimal growth.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in dry periods.

Pruning: Minimal pruning is needed—just remove dead or crossing branches to maintain shape.

Spacing: These shrubs can spread 10-15 feet wide, so allow ample room for growth.

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Low Maintenance

While Hamamelis × intermedia is not native, it does not self-seed or become invasive, making it a responsible choice for gardens that prioritize ecological harmony. It thrives in woodland settings, blending beautifully with native trees and shrubs while providing a much-needed splash of color during the bleakest months of the year.

FALL TREES

& SHRUBS

Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs! The combination of the weather cooling down and fall rain allows plants to establish their roots. Planting in the fall also gives trees and shrubs an extra growing season before the stress of summer heat and drought.

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TREES

Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin Tree): Native to US. Typically grows to 15’x10’. Showy fragrant white flowers in August. Great fall color! Plant in full sun with light shade in moist soil.
Lagerstroemia indica crape myrtle: Multi stemmed trees with beautiful late season color. Blooms late summer into fall. Exfoliating bark which continues to be showy into winter. Great diversity available.
Maple Trees: Known for their fall color. {10 best Maples for fall color}
- Acer palmatum: Japanese maples are easy to grow, cold hardy and remarkable adaptable. Their green leaf forms have the best fall color!
- Acer ginnala: This smaller maple can be used as small specimen, patio tree and even works well in a container. It has a particularly fabulous fall color!
Myrica pensylvanica (Bayberry): Native to Martha’s Vineyard. Typically grows to 10’ x 8’. Plant in full sun. It tolerates drought once established. Deer resistant.
Nysa sylvatica (Beetlebung Tree): An island native that grows where there is quite a bit of water. Often found growing in low points and bogs on the island. Has beautiful fall color and a distinguished shape. We have some young beauties for sale at the nursery.
Osmanthus heterophyllus (False Holly): An evergreen shrub that typically grows to 10’ x 10’. Blooms late fall into the winter (Oct-Nov) with small fragrant white flowers. Shade tolerant and deer resistant.
Oxydendron arboreum: Native tree known for its fall color.

Vaccinium corymbosum_ highbush blueberry

SHRUBS

Callicarpa dichotoma: Beauty Bush with beautiful lavender berries.
- Early Amethyst: A smaller variety
- Pearl Glam: A new Proven Winner cultivar, with dark foliage.
Callicarpa japonica Leucocarpa: An upright beauty berry with white berries. Pale pink-white flowers in summer.
Clerodendron trichotomum: Once the fragrant white flowers have passed the red calyces and purple berry are a showy season extender.
Fothergilla: A native shrub known for its fall color. It blooms in June and later lights up your yard with red and purple fall color. If you need a large shrub the species to get is major. There is a dwarf species available called gardenii, for a smaller shrub.
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel): Large native shrubs known for their fall color.
- Hamamelis virginiana: A fall yellow bloomer
- Hamamelis vernalis: Blooms in February
Hydrangeas: Many of the panicle hydrangeas fade to pink and hold the dried blooms way into the fall. There are some late summer bloomers that bloom into fall.
Symphoricarpos (Snow Berry): A season extender. This shrub has large white berries.
Vaccinium Corymbosum (High bush blueberry): Native to Martha’s Vineyard. Typically grows to 8’x 6’. Great fall color! Plant in full sun. Deer resistant.
Viburnums: There are many which have fabulous fall color and berries.
- Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood viburnum): Native to Martha’s Vineyard. Non-fragrant flat-topped white flowers appear in late spring. Flowers give way to blue-black, berries which are quite attractive to birds and wildlife. Tolerates light shade.
- Viburnum dilatatum: Known for their drooping berries. We carry Cardinal Candy with red berries and Michael Dodge with yellow berries.
- Viburnum plicatums: These are Chris Wiley’s favorite Viburnum in flower.

WITCH HAZEL

Hamamelis × intermedia

A Four-Season