Ozark witch hazel is a deciduous shrub in the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae) native to the Ozark Plateau in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The Latin specific epithet vernalis means "spring-flowering". It is a tough, durable plant that is easy to grow in both sun and partial shade but flowers best in full sun. It tolerates clay soils as long as the drainage is good. Although it is drought-tolerant, it does best with consistent moisture and may suffer from leaf scorch in hot, dry summers. It spreads by root suckers, which should be pruned to restrain colonization. Keep in mind that flowers will appear on old growth when pruning. It will grow 6 to 16 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. Blooming begins in mid tolate winter into early spring with clusters of fragrant red, occasionally yellow, flowers with four ribbon-like petals Ozark witch hazel adds winter interest to the garden, flowering from January to early March in a variety of colors from yellow to reddish-purple with petals resembling twisted ribbons. Potential problems: Caterpillars, Japanese beetles, leaf gall aphids, weevils, scale, leafroller, leafminer. powdery mildew, occasional leaf spots, and rots. Quick ID Hints : Flowers in axillary clusters, 4 ligulate petals Deciduous shrub to small tree with zig-zag twigs Leaf buds and young twigs tomentose
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.