Witch hazel, also known as winterbloom, is a shrub that blooms in late fall and winter. It is prized for its fragrant yellow or red flowers, which can be used to make medicinal remedies, perfumes, and cosmetics. However, the witch hazel plant is not self-fertile, which means that it requires cross-pollination from another witch hazel plant to produce seeds and fruit. In this article, we will discuss how to pollinate your witch hazel plant to increase your yield.
Witch hazel is pollinated by insects such as bees, flies, and moths. The flowers of the witch hazel plant are unique in that they lack petals and have narrow, strap-like sepals that curl back when the flower opens. The sepals are often mistaken for petals and are yellow or red in color. The flowers are also fragrant, which attracts pollinators.
The male and female flowers of the witch hazel plant appear on separate branches of the same plant. The male flowers produce pollen while the female flowers have a stigma that receives the pollen. For successful pollination to occur, pollen must be transferred from the male flowers to the female flowers.
There are several ways to pollinate your witch hazel plant:
Hand pollination involves manually transferring pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers using a small paintbrush or cotton swab. This method is useful when there are no pollinators around or when you want to control which plants are pollinated.
Attracting pollinators such as bees, flies, and moths to your garden can increase the chances of successful pollination. This can be done by planting other flowering plants that attract pollinators, such as daisies, coneflowers, and lavender.
If you have a particularly productive witch hazel plant, you can clone it by taking cuttings and rooting them. This will ensure that you have genetically identical plants that will produce the same quality and quantity of fruit.
The best time to pollinate your witch hazel plant is in late fall or early winter when the flowers are in full bloom. This is when the flowers are most fragrant and attractive to pollinators.
Q: Can I grow witch hazel from seed?
A: Yes, you can grow witch hazel from seed, but it may take several years before the plant produces flowers.
Q: How long does it take for witch hazel to bloom?
A: Witch hazel typically blooms in late fall or early winter, about 8-10 months after the flower buds form.
Q: How often should I fertilize my witch hazel plant?
A: Witch hazel plants do not require frequent fertilization. You can fertilize your plant once a year in early spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Q: How do I know if my witch hazel plant has been pollinated?
A: If your witch hazel plant has been successfully pollinated, you will see fruit developing on the female flowers. The fruit looks like small green capsules that will turn brown when they mature.