Addisonia 9 



(Plate 229) 



HAMAMELIS MOLLIS 

 Chinese Witch-hazel 



Native of China 

 Family Hamamsudaceae Witch-hazel, Family 



Hamamelis mollis Oliv. in Hook. Ic. PI. pi. 1742. 1888. 



The witch-hazels, comprising the genus Hamamelis, are a group 

 of six species, with peculiar habits and distribution. Three of them 

 occur in eastern North America, where our common species, Hama- 

 melis virginiana (see our plate 142), is a well-known shrub, worthy 

 of more frequent cultivation. Three others occur in eastern Asia, 

 in temperate parts of China and Japan, and appear occasionally 

 in American gardens. Of these the best known is Hamamelis 

 japonica (see our plate 98), which came to the attention of western 

 botanists nearly a century ago. All the Asiatic species bloom in late 

 winter or very early spring. Of the American, one opens its flowers 

 in early spring, one in mid-winter, and our common eastern 

 witch-hazel in late autumn. 



The Chinese witch-hazel was first collected in the province of 

 Hupeh, central China, by Augustine Henry, and is now known 

 also from the province of Kiangsi. It is comparatively seldom 

 planted in America. Like all witch-hazels, it is typically a shrub, 

 branching low and frequently with several stems from the one base. 

 Occasionally it rises to the dignity of a small tree. The cultiva- 

 tion and propagation of all the species are practically identical, 

 and, except for differences in the time of blooming, their horticul- 

 tural value is essentially the same. 



Witch-hazels are propagated from seeds or by layering, or may 

 be grafted on other witch-hazel stock. They are slow-growing 

 shrubs, and need to reach a considerable size before their flowers 

 are produced in sufficient abundance to be attractive. Tending 

 to irregularity in their form, they are best adapted to corners or 

 forest margins, or in connection with other shrubs, to be used as a 

 background for perennials. 



Our illustration was prepared from a plant growing in the Fruti- 

 cetum of the New York Botanical Garden, where it is perfectly 

 hardy and blooms in February or early March. 



