Ozark witchhazel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ozark witchhazel |
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| Blooming in late February in the southern Ozarks | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hamamelis
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| Species: |
vernalis
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The Hamamelis vernalis is also known as the Ozark witchhazel. It's a special type of witch-hazel plant that grows naturally in the Ozark Plateau. You can find it in the central part of North America, especially in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
This plant is a large deciduous shrub, which means it loses its leaves every year. It can grow up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall. It spreads by sending out new shoots from its roots, like a secret underground network!
Its leaves are shaped like ovals. They are about 7 to 13 centimeters (3 to 5 inches) long and 6.7 to 13 centimeters (2.6 to 5 inches) wide. The leaves are dark green on top and a bit grayish underneath. They often stay on the plant even into early winter.
The flowers of the Ozark witchhazel are usually deep red or bright red. Sometimes, they can even be yellow! They have four petals that look like ribbons, about 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. These flowers grow in groups. What's really cool is that they start blooming in the middle of winter and keep flowering until early spring. The name vernalis actually means "spring-flowering" in Latin!
The fruit of this plant is a hard, woody capsule. It's about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. About a year after the flowers are pollinated, the fruit ripens. When it's ready, it splits open very quickly and loudly, like a tiny explosion! This shoots the two shiny black seeds far away, sometimes up to 10 meters (33 feet) from the parent plant.
Even though it often grows near another type of witchhazel called Hamamelis virginiana, the Ozark witchhazel is different. You can tell them apart because the Ozark witchhazel flowers in late winter (from December to March), while the other one flowers in the fall.
Cultivation and Uses
The Ozark witchhazel is a popular plant for gardens. People like to grow it because its flowers have a strong, pleasant smell. These flowers appear in late winter when not many other plants are blooming. This makes it a special sight in a winter garden!
Gardeners have chosen several special types of Ozark witchhazel, called cultivars. These are picked mainly for their different flower colors. For example:
- 'Carnea' has pink flowers.
- 'Red Imp' has red petals with orange tips.
- 'Squib' has bright yellow flowers.
Images for kids
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New foliage, spent flowers
