Cutting Flowers off Winter Hazel
Like most flowering bonsai, Winter Hazel are stronger if flowers are cut off at the end of blooming.
Time your flower removal when the petals begin to fall. With scissors, cut the flowers off just above the new emerging leaves.
Dangling Winter Hazel flowers delight in early spring. This is a young plant beginning to lose the tiny flower petals—a perfect time to cut the flowers off.
After cutting flowers with scissors.
An older Winter Hazel, with spent flowers. Some don’t have many petals left. At this point small fruits are growing and it’s best to cut them off before they weaken the plant.
After flower removal.
After flower removal closeup. Small green leaves are emerging that will balloon into large, heart-shaped pancakes. Though this plant is grown for it’s early spring flowers, the leaves are unique and charming.
A couple weeks later, in good sun and heat, the leaves are half out. Shoots are extending. And the Winter Hazel is off and running. Once the leaves are fully out they appreciate about 50% shade cloth in the summer months. And lots of water.
4 Comments
What exactly is a shade cloth and how is it used? It’s being to get warmer in Ohio and I don’t want to burn many of my newly collected specimens. I don’t have many shady spots for my new flowering bonsai trees. I may have went a little too hard on collecting and buying new trees this winter/spring smh.
It’s a woven or knitted plastic fabric that is rated to a specific light. So, 30% shade cloth cuts out 30% of the light. For bonsai, most often used is 30-50%. If you prefer conifers, 20-30% can be good for weaker plants or those like spruce or hemlock that like shade. 50% is pretty good for deciduous trees. In most climates.
Greetings Michael,
I love Corylopsis and plan on acquiring one soon. I have a couple questions.
Which Corylopsis species is most suitable for bonsai?
On a related note. I have five Witch Hazels in cultivation. 2 x Intermedia, 2 Vernalis, and one Virginiana.
Would you happen to know if this same technique applies to them?
Information on Hamamelis bonsai has been very hard to come by.
I sincerely appreciate all you do for the community.
Regards,
Michael Wise
St. Louis, MO
Hi Michael, spicata is the species most often used. It’s strong, though maybe best suited to larger bonsai sizes. I have not worked much with witch hazels so I am hesitant to suggest technique.