Witch hazel can be propagated by seed, layering, cuttings, or suckers.
Seed
- Harvest seeds in late summer or early autumn when the fruit matures
- Sow seeds in a cold frame before they dry out
- Prick out seedlings and pot them up for overwintering
- Plant out in late spring
Cuttings
- Take firm wood cuttings in late summer
- Treat cuttings with 1.0% IBA
- Stick cuttings in a well-drained peat:perlite mix under mist
- Keep root disturbance to a minimum
Layering
- In early spring or autumn, girdle branches and cover with peaty soil
- Wait a year
Suckers
- In early spring, dig out suckers that emerge at ground level near the central stem
- Replant suckers and their root system in a new location more than 10 feet from the parent plant
Witch hazel propagation can be challenging, so you can also buy plants from a garden center.
Growing conditions
- Provide consistent moisture
- Maintain a temperature between 65°F and 75°F
- Maintain humidity to keep cuttings from drying out