2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Hamamelis (lat. Hamamelis) Is a genus of deciduous shrubs of the Witch hazel family. Under natural conditions, witch hazel grows along the shores of water bodies and in forests in North America, East Asia and the Caucasus. Witch hazel is a very valuable medicinal plant, which is why in many European countries it is grown in the "pharmaceutical gardens". The plant is popularly called "witch's nut", "magic nut", "witch's hazel" and "witch's nut". The culture received such names because of the late flowering and ripening of the fruits.
Characteristics of culture
Witch hazel is a deciduous shrub up to 5 meters high with brown, stellate-pubescent shoots. The leaves are dark green, wide, oval in shape, smooth on the outside, pubescent on the bottom, sit on short petioles, bloom in early to mid-May (depending on climatic conditions). In autumn, the leaves acquire a bright yellow color, fall off in October.
After that, yellow spider-like flowers with a pleasant aroma appear on the bare branches. The flowers consist of four elongated yellow or orange petals. Witch hazel blooms for three weeks. The fruit is a ligneous capsule containing two shiny black seeds. Fruits form eight months after flowering.
Most witch hazel do not differ in cold-resistant properties, however, species of witch hazel and spring witch hazel are not forbidden to grow in central Russia. In nature, both species form reddish flowers under favorable conditions. Saplings of many varieties and hybrids of witch hazel, grown in Russian nurseries, are unstable; in the winter season, the branches and root system become very frozen and eventually die after the first or second winter.
Growing conditions
Plots for growing witch hazel are preferable bright, intensely lit or slightly shaded, without stagnation of cold air and melt water. The culture is undemanding to soil conditions, it can grow even on rocky river banks, but plants grow best on fertile soils with good drainage. Structured loams rich in humus are optimal.
Reproduction and planting
Species witch hazel is propagated by seeds and cuttings, and hybrid ones are propagated by cuttings and grafting. Freshly harvested seeds are sown in the fall (in October-November) in seedling boxes, which, before spring, are mulched with a thick layer of peat or sawdust, and subsequently with snow. Seedlings appear only in the second year, usually in April-May.
The annual growth of witch hazel seedlings is about 20 cm, medium-sized shrubs only reach 8-12 years. Crop cuttings are carried out in the middle of summer. Cuttings are cut from the tops of the shoots. Cuttings are rooted under a film cover, because young plants need high humidity. Cuttings take root after 4-6 weeks, after which they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Care
A distinctive feature of witch hazel is that they form a permanent skeleton, to be more precise, the plants are not renewed naturally due to the growth of shoots from the lower part of the crown. So, for an even distribution of shoots, incorrectly positioned and excess branches are cut into a ring. In the future, pruning is not required for shrubs.
The culture needs additional fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers, weeding and loosening. It is advisable to mulch the near-trunk zone with garden compost, the mulch is changed twice a season - in spring and autumn. The culture is practically not affected by pests and diseases. Only cinnabar-red nectria is dangerous for witch hazel, appearing through damage in the bark or open wounds.
Application
Witch hazel looks best in single plantings, especially near beautiful architectural structures and other buildings. Witch hazel is used in group plantings with maple, oak, birch or pine. Plants harmoniously fit into the plantings located on the banks of artificial and natural reservoirs. Witch hazel is used when creating seasonal flower beds, for example, automalis.
The wood of witch hazel has not found practical use, since it is easily biodegradable. But the leaves, bark and shoots of the culture are widely used in perfumery and folk medicine. These plant parts contain oil, which is found in creams, balms and lotions. In pharmacology, the same oil is added to candles and various ointments. An infusion of witch hazel leaves is used as an anti-inflammatory agent.
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Hazel
Hazel (lat.Corylus) - nut culture; shrub or tree of the Birch family. Another name is hazel. Under natural conditions, hazel grows in coniferous-deciduous forests in Eurasia and North America. Currently, the species is especially popular among gardeners - Common hazel.
Common Hazel
Common hazel is one of the plants of the family called hazel, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Corylus avellana L. As for the name of the family of common hazel, in Latin it will be like this: Corylaceae Mirb. Description of common hazel Common hazel is known under the following popular names:
Various-leaved Hazel
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Hazel has been cultivated by people since time immemorial, and all this time it is periodically exposed to the invasion of various pests and attacks of harmful ailments. True, various diseases do not affect the beautiful hazel very often, but in any case it does not hurt to know how the manifestations of various ailments look on this wonderful plant
Witchcraft Witch Hazel
Against the background of gloomy clouds of late autumn, among the bare branches of shrubs and trees, the yellow, orange or red spider-like flowers of the bush with the name "Witch hazel" triumph. Their delicate scent spreads in the frosty air, enveloping the bush and giving the garden a magical halo
