Can you grow witch hazel in a pot?

[bonniethomas06]

Specifically, Hamamelis Jelena.

I want to grow it in a large pot and then sink the pot in a bed near the house in the autumn/winter.

It can grow to 4m high - but I am thinking so long as I keep the pot moist, in a large pot, it will only get to 1.5-2m max.

If you grow one in a pot, please can you let me know how it does?

Thanks

[Green Aura]

Can't see a problem with it bonnie but I have to admit to being a tad bewildered - ordinarily you'd grow something in a pot because you either don't have garden space or it's a tender plant you'd want to put somewhere sheltered for the winter.

I don't think it's a tender shrub is it?

Aaagh - you want it somewhere you can see it when it flowers? I may have just answered my own query.

I'll stop waffling now

[pelmetman]

Hi Bonnie

I have grown a witch hazel successfully in a pot at our last house. I loved it so much we bought it here with us and planted it directly in the ground.

It is definitely not frost tender as it has come through this winter with no problems at all.

Sue

[oldjerry]

It's Hamamelis Molis (which is what I call witch hazel) thats really hardy,don't know about the other stuff,never heard of it.Any how it grows well in a pot.
Can I ask,without hijacking,how dyou get from plant to evil smelling embrocation that all men should be carefull where they apply?

[boboff]

jerry, can you PM me with that fact please?

[Green Aura]

I don't know how they make it commercially OJ (I'm guessing much of it is extracted using alcohol) but you could make a macerated oil by soaking the flowers and/or leaves in some good quality oil - sunflower or similar, in a Kilner jar or something like that. Put it on a sunny windowsill and leave it for a couple of weeks then strain and bottle. If you want to keep it for any length of time you need to add some Vit E to slow the carrier oil from becoming rancid.

It'll have the same properties but be much milder.

[boboff]

I have no idea

[oldjerry]

Not sure what you want Boboff,but the witch Hazel I know is pretty common(grown chiefly as a winter flowering shrub),and although it stinks as an embrocation,it 's pretty effective as a paliative for bruising etc.

[boboff]

oh, I was way off beat.

sorry.

[bonniethomas06]

[boboff]

stop it!

Although given I was thinking about some strange Jerry Fettish involving Hazel puree, I think I deserve it!

[scrap]

Like,smearing your partner with Nutella spread and...

I draw the line at whipped cream.

[oldjerry]

Ah! boboff,now Isee where you're coming from,No absolutely the reverse,imagine rubbing it in your eyes,and multiply that by a factor of ten!.....by all means feel free to try it.........

[boboff]

I'll pass I think.

Sorry.

[Millymollymandy]

Isn't the whole point of growing Hammamelis in a pot because it is an acid lover, and if you don't have acid soil then that's the only way to grow it.