I took a trip to KAT Nurseries today to take a look at the latest delivery of trees. Many trees have started to show their flowers; Red and Silver Maple, Elm and Cornelian Cherry Dogwood. One plant, however, has had its blooms for a good part of winter…

Allow me to introduce The Ozark Witch Hazel.

Ozark Witch Hazel, Hamamelis vernalis, is a deciduous small tree/large shrub that can grow to approximately 10′ tall. It’s valued because of its flowers, which are often present when no other plants in the landscape are blooming. While not overly showy, the 4-petaled flowers are very fragrant. They come in a variety of colors, including red, yellow, orange and pink. This native plant is the perfect companion to carry us through the last few weeks of winter and offers a great preview of the colors and scents we associate with spring.

A few pointers for those of you who may want to add this plant to your landscape.

• Flowers January to March in St. Louis
• Best blooms come in full sun, but will do well in partial shade.
• Does best in moist, well-drained soil.
• Prune in spring, once flowers are gone to control size.

Thank you to KAT Nursery for allowing us to tour the property today and for being a valued resource for Ryan Lawn and Tree.