What hardiness zones is Hamamelis mollis suitable for?

Hamamelis mollis is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 5, 6, 7, 8.

What are the sun requirements for Hamamelis mollis?

Hamamelis mollis requires Part Sun.

How much water does Hamamelis mollis need?

Hamamelis mollis has Medium water needs.

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Deciduous Shrubs

Hamamelis mollis

Chinese witch hazel

HamamelidaceaeAsia

At a Glance

TypeShrub

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height8–15 feet (2.4–4.5 m)

Width8–15 feet (2.4–4.5 m)

Maturity12 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 8

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Deer Resistant

Fragrant (strong)

Maintenancelow

Overview

Hamamelis mollis, commonly called Chinese witch hazel, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Hamamelidaceae, native to the mountains of central and western China (Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou). It is one of the most important winter-flowering woody plants in temperate gardens worldwide, and arguably the finest species of witch hazel for Pacific Northwest conditions. Growing 8–15 feet (2.4–4.5 m) tall and wide with a broad, vase-shaped habit and ascending branches, it produces its extraordinarily fragrant, golden-yellow flowers from January through March on entirely bare branches — among the coldest months of the Pacific Northwest gardening year. The individual flowers are structurally distinctive: four narrow, strap-shaped, crinkled petals 0.5–0.75 inches (12–20 mm) long unfurl from small red-brown calyces in clusters of three to five at each node. The intensity of the fragrance — sweet, spicy, and pervasive on mild winter days — is unmatched by any other common garden shrub flowering at the same season. The large, broadly obovate leaves 3–6 inches (7.5–15 cm) long are notably softly hairy on both surfaces (the species name mollis means 'soft'), giving them a gray-green, velvety appearance in summer. Autumn color is an excellent orange to orange-red. H. mollis is a parent of the H. x intermedia hybrid group (crossed with H. japonica) that dominates commercial witch hazel production.

Native Range

Native to mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland at elevations of 3,000–6,500 feet (900–2,000 m) in central and western China, primarily Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces, growing in moist, humus-rich, well-drained, acidic soils on wooded hillsides and valley slopes. Not native to North America.

Suggested Uses

Chinese witch hazel is among the most valuable large shrubs for the Pacific Northwest garden, providing intense fragrance and visual interest during January, February, and March when almost no other woody plant of comparable size is in flower. A Great Plant Pick for Pacific Northwest gardens. Ideal as a specimen where the winter flowers and fragrance can be appreciated at close range — near a path, entrance, or window. Outstanding combined with early bulbs (Eranthis, Galanthus, early Narcissus), winter-interest groundcovers, and Helleborus under the canopy. Site away from strong east and north winds.

How to Identify

Chinese witch hazel is identified in winter by its clusters of four narrow, crinkled, strap-shaped golden-yellow petals 0.5–0.75 inches (12–20 mm) long erupting from small red-brown calyces on bare branches from January through March, with an intensely sweet, spicy fragrance perceptible at considerable distance on mild days. In summer, the broadly obovate leaves 3–6 inches (7.5–15 cm) are distinctive for their pronounced soft, velvety hairiness on both surfaces, giving a gray-green texture quite different from the less hairy H. japonica and H. x intermedia. Distinguished from H. x intermedia cultivars by its entirely golden-yellow (not copper, orange, or red) petals and more softly hairy leaf surfaces; from H. virginiana by its late winter (not autumn) flowering season.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8' - 15'

Width/Spread8' - 15'

Reaches mature size in approximately 12 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

orange

red

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Winter

Chinese witch hazel blooms from January through early March in Pacific Northwest gardens — peak flowering typically in February — on entirely bare branches. Individual clusters of four crinkled, strap-shaped, golden-yellow petals emerge at each node along the previous year's branches over four to six weeks. Flowers are remarkably frost-tolerant: petals roll inward in hard freezes and re-open when temperatures moderate. The fragrance is strongest on mild, still days and detectable at 20–30 feet (6–9 m) distance.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Golden-yellow; four narrow crinkled strap-shaped petals 0.5–0.75 inches (12–20 mm) per cluster; intensely sweet-spicy fragrant

Foliage Description

Broadly obovate, 3–6 inches (7.5–15 cm), gray-green, velvety-hairy on both surfaces; orange to orange-red in autumn

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Partial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loampeatsand

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

10–15 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 5.0–6.5. Pacific Northwest gardens with naturally acidic soils are ideal — amend heavy clay with compost and grit at planting. Consistent moisture is important through the growing season; do not allow the root zone to dry out. Mulch generously to conserve moisture. No supplemental fertilization needed on most Pacific Northwest soils; avoid alkaline or high-phosphate fertilizers. Witch hazels resent root disturbance; avoid transplanting established plants. Allow ample space — a mature specimen needs 10–15 feet (3–4.5 m) in each direction.

Pruning

Minimal pruning needed and generally inadvisable — witch hazel blooms on short spurs along older branches and develops its best form slowly without intervention. Remove dead or damaged branches in late spring after flowering is fully complete. Light shaping can be done immediately after flowering if necessary, though this reduces the following year's flower count. Never prune heavily — recovery is slow and the natural vase-shaped branching structure is a key ornamental feature.

Pruning Schedule

late spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic