Plant Availability. By Ken L. Gordon, Botanist, National Forests in Mississippi. The combination of leaf and flower appearance coupled with the clone-forming habit of the plants did not match any known species of witch-hazel and convinced Steve to embark on a voyage of discovery that led to the final conclusion that big-leaf witch-hazel was indeed a new species! Leonard's Witch Hazel is commercially available from some native plant nurseries. Another American native witch hazel is Hamamelis ovalis, or Leonard's witch hazel. 12493 E US Hwy 90. It prefers a semi-shaded location with moist loamy soil.--A. Hamamelis mollis Chinese Witch Hazel. The locality from which Lyon collected his plant is very vague. First, it is a newly described (new to science) woody shrub from the southeastern states where conventional wisdom had decreed there were no new species to be discovered. Hamamelis ovalis Leonard's Witchhazel 1gallon. Hamamelis ovalis S.W. Genus. 6, NE1/4, 7 Jul 2004, S.W. $15.00. Found principally in Mississippi and reputedly in Alabama, and first noticed in 2004 by its large leaves which resemble those of the hazelnut, oval with a pointed tip. Flower South Mississippi. Subordinate Taxa. (Full article • 31 comments) (36) The American witch-hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, which has a native range from Texas to Maine and from Minnesota to Florida, is the least unusual in … Hamamelis ovalis Little known and not very widespread species, in nature these witch hazels are present in the area surrounding the Mississippi river; the peculiarity that distinguishes them from other witch hazels is fundamentally to be found in the color of the flowers, … 2006). More Accounts and Images; Flora of North America (HAMAM) Integrated Taxonomic Information System (HAMAM) Wildlife. It grows in shallow flat-bottomed ravines and on adjacent low slopes. Geographic Range: Witch Hazel can be found within the United States in the Northeast and Southeast from the border with Ontario and Nova Scotia to the Florida Panhandle. -, View a List of All Ecological Communities. Leonard). Landry and K.N. It is possible that it may be the same species described in North Carolina by Scottish plant finder John Lyon in 1812. SIZE: 1gallon. Witch-hazels or witch hazels (Hamamelis) are a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae, with four species in North America (H. ovalis, H. virginiana, and H. vernalis), and one each in Japan (H. japonica) and China (H. mollis). What is remarkable about these species is when they flower. The flowers are red or orange instead of the clear lemon yellow of common Witch Hazel, and it flowers in the late winter instead of autumn. The shrub occurs beneath a canopy of pine and mixed deciduous hardwoods. Hamamelis ovalis First described in 2006 (Leonard 2006) Hamamelis ovalis currently has a reported worldwide distribution from a total of six U.S. counties, one in Mississippi (Perry County) and ve Alabama counties (Butler, Clarke, Covington, Crenshaw, and Monroe Counties) (Kartesz 2015; Kral et al. University of West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama. It typically grows 15-20’ tall with a similar … Commercially produced witch hazel cultivars are generally grafted or budded onto Hamamelis virginiana rootstocks. Site in loamy, moist soil with overhead canopy for shade. Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Monroe, Wilcox. Fax: 850-971-5416. Hamamelis ovalis (Big-Leaf Witchhazel) up to 15ft; makes patches; very rare, flower color varies from deep red to yellow. Hamamelis ovalis In 2005 Steve Leonard discovered a new species of Hamamelis which is known as Leonard’s witch hazel. Big leaf witch hazel (Hamamelis ovalis) was “discovered” in 2004 and is known to exist in southern Mississippi and Alabama. Counties represented by specimen data listed below, Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below, Range of years during which specimens were collected, View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database, The Florida Center for Community Design + Research, Florida Center for Community Design and Research, Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License, Leonard's Witch Hazel is a native deciduous shrub in the Witch-Hazel family (Hamamelidaceae). This species was first reported as new to Alabama by Keener in 2010. Big-leaf witch-hazel grows in shallow flat-bottomed ravines and on adjacent low slopes. Hamamelis L. – witchhazel. $25.00. Cuttings are therefore unlikely to match the parent plant. Leonard The Nature Conservancy Camp Shelby Field Office CSTS-ENV, Bldg. HAMAMELIS : HAMAMELIDACEAE) APPARENTLY ENDEMIC TO SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI S.W. Quick view. (Chinese witch hazel) Hamamelis ovalis S. W. Leonard (Mississippi Witch-Hazel) Hamamelis vernalis Sarg. After doing an initial skin patch test on a small portion of your skin, witch hazel can be directly applied. When he returned in early January to view the flowers, another surprise awaited. Big-leaf witch-hazel (Hamamelis ovalis) By Ken L. Gordon, Botanist, National Forests in Mississippi Big-leaf witch-hazel is a species worthy of note for several reasons. Halesia diptera magniflora Big Flowered Silverbell. 6678 Camp Shelby Mississippi 39407, U.S.A. ABSTRACT A new species of witch-hazel, Hamamelis ovalis, is described from Perry County in southern Mississippi, U.SA. The North American species are occasionally called winterbloom. Hamamelis mollis 'Gold Edge' Gold Edge Chinese Witch Hazel. Our plant pick this week is one of the earliest or latest shrubs to flower in the season.I say that because it depends on which species you have!Our plant is Witch Hazel (Hamamelis spp.) Plants are closely allied to the vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) yet have much larger leaves that often reach 6-9” long and wide. If, like most of us, you're not sure exactly what it is, here's the scientific answer: "Witch hazel is extraction that is made from leaves, bark and twigs from the genus of Hamamelis virginiana, H. mexicana, H. ovalis. Leonard's Witch Hazel differs from our common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana … Hamamelis ovalis, known commonly as bigleaf witch-hazel, has a known range that is limited to a handful of counties in southern Mississippi and Alabama. Phone: 850-971-5159. Leonard Bigleaf Witch-hazel, Leonard's Witch-hazel Hamamelidaceae (Witch-Hazel Family) Synonym(s): USDA Symbol: HAOV4 USDA Native Status: L48 . Shortly after it was discovered at a handful of other sites in Mississippi and Alabama. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Witch hazel propagation can be difficult, and some horticultural expertise and experience is required. The flowers are produced between late December and February. NatureServe Rank: G2 - Imperiled Leaves two to three times larger than the common eastern witch-hazel caught Steve’s attention when he first saw these plants. It is also called the Big Leaved Witch Hazel because the leaves are the largest in any … and we could be talking about virginiana, vernalis, ovalis, mollis (Chinese), and japonica (Japanese). Interpreting Wetland Status. Campbell (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research. HAMAMELIS OVALIS S.W.Leonard, Sida 22: 850. Hamamelis vernalis 'Amethyst' Amethyst Vernal Witch Hazel. Photo by Steve Leonard. 2006. The new species was first noticed in July 2004 when Steve Leonard was conducting botanical surveys on Camp Shelby training site. So how did this plant go undiscovered for so long? University of South Florida]. Its leaves are 2-3x bigger than other North American species and it produces orange-red flowers in the late winter. USDA PLANTS Database. Keener, B. R., A.R. This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. Plus, if you see the plant when it is not in flower, it is easy to dismiss it as a common Witch Hazel with unusually large leaves. A NEW SPECIES OF WITCH-HAZEL (. This very rare Hamamelis was only discovered in 2004 in Southern Mississippi, but it straddles two counties in different states: southern Mississippi and Alabama. It typically grows to 6' tall. Species. Diamond. First, it is a newly described (new to science) woody shrub from the southeastern states where conventional wisdom had decreed there were no new species to be discovered. In Missouri, it is typically found in gravelly stream beds, bases of rocky slopes along streams and less frequently in rocky wooded hillsides where it spreads by suckers to form large colonies (Steyermark). Witch Hazel Applied Topically. The colonies tend to have one dominant “red” form with a few bushes of variants. Quick view. Big-Leaf Witch Hazel is a critically imperiled species of Hamamelis. Hamamelis vernalis, commonly called Ozark witch hazel, is native to the Ozark Plateau extending from southern Missouri through northwestern Arkansas to eastern Oklahoma. This species was first described in 2006. This large leaved, winter flowering, deciduous shrub has flowers in shades of red and leaves much larger than our common witch-hazel. Wetland Status. Data, text, and images licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. AUA, SAMF, TROY, UWAL, Range of years during which specimens were collected: The site could be from a river bank in the western Georgia or the “Katawba (sic) mountains in western North Carolina. Web Development: The Florida Center for Community Design + Research, A member of the University of South Florida family of PlantAtlas.org sites. Leonard) a rare species of southern Alabama and Mississippi, or with Ozark Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis Sarg. Hamamelis vernalis 'Beholden' Beholden Vernal Witch Hazel. The known distribution of this species is extraordinarily small, part of one county. Food. Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) 10-25ft; 6-10ft spread; large deciduous shrub with interesting ribbon-like yellow flowers; partial shade. A rare witch hazel species that was recently described from a small population that was discovered in Mississippi. Related Links. ), a species from the Ozark mountain region of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas. Leonard's Witch Hazel differs from our common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana Linnaeus) by having larger, more rounded leaves. Second, it is known only from a very small area in the headwaters of one creek in southern Mississippi. It was discovered in July 2004 during a botanical inventory of a National Guard training site in Perry County, Mississippi. Closer examination of the plants revealed the clonal nature of the shrubs where a few plants were 4-8 feet tall but the majority was only 1-2 feet. Flowers may be tinged with orange and/or red, and may indicate hybridization with either Leonard's Witch Hazel (Hamamelis ovalis S.W. Hamamelis vernalis, or the Ozark Witch Hazel, is native to Central America. Alabama Plant Atlas. Witch-hazel includes 5 children: Hamamelis japonica Sieb. In contrast, the other two USA species are deeply and securely rooted. It is much less common than our other species of Witch Hazel, and often grows in remote, difficult to access areas. S. W. Leonard described this new species of Witch Hazel from specimens he collected on Camp Shelby in the Desoto National Forest, Perry County Mississippi in 2004 (Sida 22: 850. Counties represented by specimen data listed below: Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: His first impression of the leaves was how much they resembled hazelnut leaves in shape. Mailstop Code: 1103 U.S.A. Mississippi: Perry Co.: shallow ravine in mixed pine-hardwoods near headwaters of Garraway Creek, Camp Shelby Training Area T-17, Compartment 96, Desoto National Forest, T2N, R11W, Sec. ... Hamamelis ovalis Bigleaf Witch Hazel. The species apparently tolerates prescribed burning which is typical management in the longleaf pine woods of south Mississippi. From the Image Gallery. 1400 Independence Ave., SW Usually the colony will have a few shrubs that show some yellow influence where the petals are bicolored. The short runners are shallowly rooted and easy to pull up. *It’s important to not ingest witch hazel, as it can be dangerous due to the tannins within the plant. Hamamelidaceae – Witch-hazel family. It has since been documented from seven counties in southwest Alabama. The leaves are twice the size of other native species and flowers are various shades of red. 2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery. Since this shrub is only recently discovered, there remains the possibility of new populations being discovered. Noteworthy Characteristics Hamamelis virginiana, known as common witch hazel, is a fall-blooming, deciduous shrub or small tree that is native to woodlands, forest margins and stream banks in eastern North America. & Zucc. Leonard – Leonard's witch hazel. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data. Hamamelis vernalis Vernal Witch Hazel. Leonard 11073 (HOLOTYPE: MO; ISOTYPES; FSU, NCU, NY). Brian Keener first reported this species as new to Alabama in 2010 from populations originally discovered by Wayne K. Webb. Map & Directions. Hamamelis ovalis Leonard's witch hazel Hamamelis vernalis Ozark witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana American witchhazel Legal Status. The Ozark Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) — contributed by Denise Hansson. The Big-leaf Witch-hazel (Hamamelis ovalis) was only recently discovered in Texas. 2010). View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county. Zone 4-9. A fifth species, H. ovalis (big-leaf witch hazel), was only just discovered and described in 2004 in a small area of Mississippi, the only area in which it seemed to exist at the time. If you experience any skin irritation or allergic reactions, stop the use of witch hazel immediately. Leonard's Witch Hazel grows in hardwood or mixed pine/hardwood forests on mesic slopes. Each flower has four strap-shaped petals. [S.M. Hamamelis ovalis Witch Hazel Red. Big-leaf witch-hazel is a species worthy of note for several reasons. Perhaps Lyon’s species still persists, forgotten, in some garden or arboretum? It is found in south Alabama. Hamamelis mollis Oliv. Lee, FL 32059. Hamamelis ovalis Big-leafed witch hazel is a rare and relatively newly discovered (2004) species native to the long-leafed pine woods of Southern Mississippi(Note-it has apparently been spotted in Alabama as well). The witch-hazel genus (Hamamelis) consists of five species of deciduous shrubs.Three of these are native to North America, while two are native to the temperate regions of Asia. 2010. The flowering time (February) also makes it less likely that a botanist would be out collecting. Hamamelis ovalis S.W. For more information, contact: Brian R. Keener, Ph.D. Since none of his specimens are known to survive and his description of the locality was brief to the point of confusion, this theory remains an intriguing mystery. The report and subsequent collections were made from populations originally discovered by Wayne K. Webb. Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. tall. The lower leaf surfaces were soft, and on new leaves, densely white. Witch hazel is one of the most well-known skincare ingredients. Steve reports that the shrubs are easiest to spot from a distance in October-November. Diamond, L. J. Davenport, P. G. Davison, S. L. Ginzbarg, C. J. Hansen, C. S. Major, D. D. Spaulding, J. K. Triplett, and M. Woods. The seed may be ejected several yards from the plant. The fruit is a woody capsule that explosively ejects the seed when it splits. Hamamelis ovalis range map. 2015). Leonard's Witch Hazel is a multi-trunked shrub reaching heights of 15-20 feet, though most plants are only a few feet tall. The dominant forms may be scarlet, rose-pink, wine-red, or maroon. Counties included on distribution map: The leaves resemble those found on the Hazelnut Tree, hence the common name “Witch Hazel.” Witch Hazel produces flowers at the same time the previous year’s fruit matures. At the time it was thought to be restricted to just a single site in Mississippi. There are dozens of cultivars, however, many the outcome of crossing the two Asian species, resulting in Hamamelis _ intermedia. The leaves are alternate, ovate in outline, with crenate (rounded teeth) margins. The flowers were of various shades of red! Flowers are red or orange red in color. Soil is loamy in texture. (Hamamelis translates to “together with nut” – fruit and flowers occur on same plant at … Castanea 75: 500. Plant Characteristics Duration: Perennial Unknown to many, there are three native Witch-hazel species, Hamamelis virginiana, H. vernalis, and H. ovalis. Washington DC 20250-1103, Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices, Native Plant Material Accomplishment Reports, Fading Gold: The Decline of Aspen in the West, Wildflowers, Part of the Pagentry of Fall Colors, Tall Forb Community of the Intermountain West, Strategic Planning, Budget And Accountability, Recreation, Heritage And Volunteer Resources, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air And Rare Plants. 2020. (Japanese witch hazel). Flowers in axillary clusters appear in mid to late winter (January-March in St. Louis) prior to the emergence of the f…