Tree ID Mistake - Witch Hazel Confusion Newsletter

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Tree ID Mistake - Witch Hazel Confusion

Today's newsletter is about straightening out a misidentification in one of my past books and on the website. The witch hazel entries actually had photos of Persian ironwood (Parrotia). It was my tree and the nursery where it was purchased had it labeled as witch hazel. I finally wised up and learned the difference in these these two great and very similar plants. This shot here is witch hazel. I don't currently have a good shot of the terrific flowers. If anyone could help us with some shots, we'd appreciate it.

Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) is a deciduous tree in the family Hamamelidaceae, closely related to the witch-hazel genus Hamamelis. It is native to Iran and the Alborz mountains.

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) grows wild in East and Central Texas as well as the entire eastern half of the US, usually near creeks and streams as an understory plant. It adapts to various soils and does well in landscape situations or in the herb garden.

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Naturally yours,

Howard Garrett

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