"Jelena" Witch Hazel/Hamamelis in bloom.

[Asymetrix]

Just a couple pictures of my witch hazel bonsai. It's got a long way to go development wise including an angle change to make it into a semi cascade style. They are fairly slow growing.

The leaves are huge, like dumbo the elephant huge. As such, it is a winter bonsai only in essence. However, the foliage is very beautiful in the fall regardless of it's size.

This tree has been in training 3 years from nursery stock. It is Hamamelis x Intermedia "Jelena".

Hard to find information on Hamamelis bonsai so feel free to chime in if you have any experience with them.

 

[Asymetrix]

Sorry for bad photo quality. I don't have access to any backdrops at the moment. The pot is just for training purposes. Second picture is proposed angle change.

 

[ABCarve]

They’re a lot of fun. Mines has been blooming since mid December and still going strong. Here’s my thread. We can compare notes!

Witch hazel ground layer

Here we go again!😱😱 This time I’m using the concrete method I saw NaoTK use. I know the method works but I’m not quite sure about this Hamamelis intermedia jelena. It has a stupid nebari so I have nothing to lose. This is about building a bonsai from scratch. New nebari, branch placement ala...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[BrightsideB]

I have one I’ve been growing for a couple years. It’s the native one from around here that I got from a native plant nursery.

I got it for the yard but am realizing that it is the fall and winter months these are spectacular for bonsai. Otherwise they do have huge foliage so they look a little goofy when they have their leaves.

Thanks for the post. I love the color of the flowers on yours!

 

[Asymetrix]

I have one I’ve been growing for a couple years. It’s the native one from around here that I got from a native plant nursery.

I got it for the yard but am realizing that it is the fall and winter months these are spectacular for bonsai. Otherwise they do have huge foliage so they look a little goofy when they have their leaves.

Thanks for the post. I love the color of the flowers on yours!

The native H. Virginiana or Vernalis? I have been working with both American species and a few of the Asian hybrids.

The Ozark witch hazel (Vernalis) has been the top performer in terms of vigor and growth, as well as tolerating root work well. It also has significantly smaller leaves than the others.

I personally think it could be the best species all around. It doesn't have as grand of a floral display as the hybrids but makes up for it other ways.

 

[Asymetrix]

They’re a lot of fun. Mines has been blooming since mid December and still going strong. Here’s my thread. We can compare notes!

Witch hazel ground layer

Here we go again!😱😱 This time I’m using the concrete method I saw NaoTK use. I know the method works but I’m not quite sure about this Hamamelis intermedia jelena. It has a stupid nebari so I have nothing to lose. This is about building a bonsai from scratch. New nebari, branch placement ala...

www.bonsainut.com

Thanks Abcarve. I do have a question if you know. Do you remove the flowers after blooming? I noticed last year a few seed capsules were allowed to develop and I feel it hindered growth and vigor quite a bit.

It doesn't seem possible to really prevent the flowering but preventing the formation of the fruit is helpful correct?

They are wonderful plants, I look forward to the flowers in what is most always the greyest part of the year. They really look amazing in the snow as well.

 

[ABCarve]

Yes I do remove them. Here a photo of one I have in the ground. It was 14 F. and the flowers didn't seem to mind. Some varieties the flowers are fragrant.