Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Diane’
Overview
Uses: Specimen plantings, woodland edges, and anywhere you want winter color.
Benefits: One of the best red witch hazels. In late winter, the bare branches are lined with spidery, coppery-red flowers, long before most plants wake up. The leaves turn bright orange and red in fall, giving it two big seasons of color.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Vase-shaped, Spreading — open and wide-spreading with age.
Bloom Color: Red, Orange
Foliage Color: Green, turning Orange and Red in fall
Mature Height: 10–15 feet
Mature Width: 10–15 feet
Bloom Season: Winter, Spring
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Summary
Coppery-red flowers on bare branches in late winter, when the garden needs color most.
Diane is a hybrid witch hazel, a cross between Japanese and Chinese species, valued for flowers far redder than the familiar yellow types. In late winter, often February into March, the bare branches are lined with small, spidery blooms of coppery red with orange tones. The narrow petals curl up on very cold days and unfurl again when it warms, so the display lasts for weeks.
Over time it grows into a broad, vase-shaped shrub ten to fifteen feet tall and wide, open enough to show off its branch structure in winter. It makes a fine specimen near a window, a walk, or a woodland edge, where those early flowers can be enjoyed from indoors.
Fall brings a second season as the leaves turn orange and red. Deer rarely browse witch hazel, so it holds up in unfenced yards and along wooded property lines.
Care
Diane Witch Hazel Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. More sun brings heavier flowering and stronger fall color; in partial shade it grows more open but still blooms.
Witch hazel prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic matter. Work compost into the planting area, and avoid both very dry, sandy sites and spots where water stands after rain.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first two growing seasons while roots establish. Keep a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch over the root zone, and water during extended dry spells even after establishment, since witch hazel does not like drought.
Feeding needs are light. One application of a slow release fertilizer in spring is plenty.
Flowers form on the previous year’s growth, so do any pruning in spring, right after bloom. Little is needed beyond removing crossing or damaged branches. Many hybrid witch hazels are grafted onto a vigorous rootstock; remove any shoots that come up from below the graft or from the base with noticeably different leaves.
Size
What Size is the Diane Witch Hazel for Sale Online?
Our Diane Witch Hazel ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Diane Witch Hazel Grow?
Expect about 10 to 15 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide at maturity, in an open, vase-shaped form that broadens with age. Growth is slow to moderate, so it takes a number of years to reach full size. Give it at least 10 feet from buildings and other large shrubs.
Additional Information
Is it the same as native witch hazel?
No. Diane is a hybrid witch hazel, Hamamelis × intermedia, bred from Asian species. The common witch hazel native to eastern North America, Hamamelis virginiana, blooms in fall with yellow flowers. Diane blooms in late winter and is grown for its red flower color.
Is it a shrub or a small tree?
It grows as a large, multi-stemmed shrub with several main stems rising from the base. With age, the lower branches can be removed to show off the stems and give it a more tree-like look, but it keeps its broad, vase-shaped outline. For more large flowering shrubs, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
Do deer eat witch hazel?
Deer rarely browse witch hazel, which makes it a dependable choice for woodland edges and open yards. Browse more Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
