Plant Library
Christmas Cheer Witchhazel Hamamelis vernalis 'Christmas Cheer' Height: 9 feet Spread: 13 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 5a Other Names: Witch Hazel Description: A medium sized shrub highly prized for the winter garden, featuring spicy fragrant showy yellow flowers with red bases in mid winter along the bare branches; spreading habit of growth and reliable gold fall color; a very adaptable plant Ornamental Features Christmas Cheer Witchhazel has fragrant yellow strap-like flowers with red calyces along the branches in late winter before the leaves. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The serrated oval leaves turn an outstanding gold in the fall. Landscape Attributes Christmas Cheer Witchhazel is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Christmas Cheer Witchhazel is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Christmas Cheer Witchhazel will grow to be about 9 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 13 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years. This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.
