Hamamelis virginiana

Product Info

Common Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Witch-hazel Family

Considered a small tree or large shrub, Witch-hazel can be a beautiful specimen tree or planted in groups to form a hedge. It typically has a suckering nature, but can be pruned to one or several stems. It’s unique in its flowering time of very late fall or early winter when few other plants are flowering. The yellow flowers have long, fringe-like petals and are thought to be pollinated by gnats, some late flying bees, and/or a cold hardy moth species. Seeds take an entire year to mature, and when ripe, loudly expel 10-20’ from the tree. Best flowering will occur in more sun and moist soils, but this plant is naturally an understory plant, so can tolerate close to full shade. Leaves turn an attractive yellow in the fall.

Blooms: Yellow, 3-4 weeks, Oct-Nov
Leaves: Pale green, oval, wavy, 5”, yellow in the fall
Height: 15-20’
Space: 10-12’
Soil: Average-Moist, occasional flooding, tolerates clay
Exposure: Full sun-Part sun-Part shade 
Fauna: Flies, some bees, moths?
Seeds: ¾” dark brown capsules take 1 year to mature
Deer Resistance: High
Zone: 3-9
Native Status: NC native, common across the state
Provenance: Unknown, seed grown