Broken Heart? The Perfect Tree For You
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
by Dennis Sons
tn nursery
To improve the landscape in mid winter, there are a few plants which make the place look bright and charming. One of the great plants for winter blooms is the witch hazel. A genus of the Hamamelis family, the witch hazel is native to North America and Asia, especially Japan and China. The name witch hazel means flexible rods or twigs. Because of its belated budding as well as the capricious bursting of the seed container, witch hazel is also known by as winter bloom and snapping hazel that depicts the shrub's character better. When in full bloom, the winter hazel reveals spider like blossoms with narrow fragile petals along the bare stems. The witch hazel is a deciduous shrub with small trees that rarely grow more than 15-25 feet. The shrub has broad leaves arranged alternatively. In general the witch hazel produces flowers on leafless stems in winter which vary in color from pale yellow to dark orange or red. The small fruit contains a single seed. At maturity the seed spontaneously ruptures and spread the seeds to the surrounding soil at a distance of 10-12 meters. The witch hazel is pretty resistant to cold temperatures. In North America the witch hazel can be found growing all the way from Eastern Canada to South Texas and Florida. The tree flourishes along sandy banks, country lanes, stony slopes and fenced rows. The witch hazel makes a great ornamental plant chiefly due to the cluster of rich orange red flowers which bloom in early autumn or when the leaves start to fall. The flowers continue throughout fall. In the last two decades, many hybrids of the witch hazel have become available and these produce just as many pretty flowers which last till early spring. The witch hazel is best planted in spring and it prefers full sun. The soil must be neutral but rich in organic matter. The tree does not require much maintenance when mature. The witch hazel is also a very popular medicinal plant and extracts are often used to treat a variety of skin rashes, abrasions and eczema. The dried leaves of the witch hazel are also mixed in tea to treat sore throat, diarrhea, vaginitis and a whole host of other medical disorders. Once upon a time, the witch hazel branches were used as Witch hazel branches have been used as directional rods, which would apparently bow downward when there is presence of water, gold, or any other exotic material in the vicinity. Finally, Witch hazel stems and twigs are used for safeguard against evil and to reverse any love rejection spells or to mend a broken heart. For more on the witch hazel, please visit www.tnnursery.net.
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