Witch Hazel
 

Hamamelis virginiana
Common Name: Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is a native, common, non-invasive shrub, sometimes growing tall enough to be considered a tree. It usually grows to about 15 feet, but can reach heights of 30 feet.

This shrub is very broad and has many trunks. Its bark is light brown and can be smooth or scaly.

Witch Hazel leaves are three to six inches long and have scalloped edges. They turn yellow in the fall.

Long-lived Witch Hazel grows in forests as an understory plant, meaning underneath taller trees. It also grows along streams and edges of woods where it grows taller with more light. 

Witch Hazel is a beautiful ornamental for shady, rich sites. It grows best with good soil moisture and moderate shade. The best sites are those sheltered and shaded by larger trees or buildings; it often does poorly in open sunny sites, though with excellent soil and abundant moisture it can be very full and attractive in the sun. It is most attractive in winter, when it is the only color in the landscape.   

Fruits are consumed by a variety of birds, including wild turkey. Beaver, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Chipmunks, squirrels, and Eastern Cottontails also eat the fruit. 

Witch Hazel is a PlantWise alternative to Amur Maple, Russian Olive, Autumn  Olive, Common Buckthorn

 

 

Culture
Soil & Growth Rate: Moist well drained acidic soils. Growth rate is medium to slow. Witch Hazel is somewhat drought tolerant.

Light: Witch-hazel is a shade-tolerant, mid- to late-seral species. It sometimes forms a solid understory in second-growth and old-growth forests in the eastern United States. Plant in part shade to shade.

Use

Wildlife

Landscaping 

Shady Areas

Riparian

Medicinal  (see Additional Note below)

 

 

Height
To 15 Feet - sometimes to 30 Feet

 

 

Spread
5-10 Feet

Color
Witch-hazel is extraordinary in its flowering habits. flowers in late October to early December, its slender yellow petals the only signs of color in the dormant woods. Its yellow, ribbon-like flowers have one inch petals. Flowers have spicy scent. 

After the flowers fade, fruit develops for the next year, becoming ripe the following Fall.

The fruit ,which is about 1/2 inch long, explodes, launching two to four black seeds up to 30 feet

US Nativity
Native

 

More Info

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Characteristics & Attributes

Sun Light Requirement
    Full Sun if watered regularly 
    Medium Sun / Average Shade
    Shade
Soil Moisture Requirements
    Dry
    Moderate
    Moist
   Wet - if well-drained
Growth Rate
    Fast
    Moderate
    Slow
Tolerance
    Alkaline Soil
    Acid Soil
    Dry Sites
    Wet Sites
    Wind
Uses
    Specimen / Ornamental
    Massing
    Border
    Hedge
    Barrier / Screen
    Naturalized Areas
    Riparian 
Special Uses
    Wildlife
    Wetland
    Ground Cover
    Erosion Control / Stabilization
    Fragrant Flowers
    Cut Flowers
     Medicinal (see Note Below)
Nature Attracting
    Butterfly
    Hummingbird
    Songbirds
    Game Birds
    Beneficial Insects / Bees


Wildlife Benefit
   Cover
    Nesting
    Food/Birds
    Food/Small Animals
    Butterfly Host
    Butterfly Nectar

Additional Notes

Witch Hazel grows underneath oaks, hickories, American Elm, Red Maple, Yellow Poplar, pine trees, Sweetgum, and American Beech.

Witch-hazel is found on a variety of sites but is most abundant in mesic woods and bottoms. In the western and southern parts of its range, it is confined to moist cool valleys, moist flats, north and east slopes, coves, benches, and ravines. In the northern part of its range, it is found on drier and warmer sites of slopes and hilltops

It is often alongside other shrubs or small trees, like Sassafras, Flowering Dogwood, and blueberry.

The fruit of witch-hazel is eaten by ruffed grouse, northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, and white-tailed deer.  The fruit is also frequently eaten by beaver and cottontail rabbit.

Note: Witch-hazel obtains its name from the dowsers, or "water witches" who used forked witch-hazel sticks to detect groundwater. This tradition apparently began with Native Americans (Mohegan). Native Americans used witch-hazel leaves for tea. They used leaf and bark extracts medicinally as an astringent and vasoconstrictor and for other uses.

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