Common Witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hamamelis macrophylla
- Hamamelis virginica var. macrophylla
- Phonetic Spelling
- ham-ah-MAY-lis ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
- Description
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Witch-Hazel is a deciduous tree that may grow 15 to 20 feet tall. The leaves are alternate with an unequal, wavy margin and hairy stem. The bark is smooth and gray to gray-brown. In winter, bright yellow flowers with very slender petals (resemble yellow spiders) mature. The small tree produces a woody, brown capsule, 1/2 inch long and nearly as wide, containing two shiny black seeds.
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers in axillary clusters, 4 ligulate petals
- Deciduous shrub to small tree with zig-zag twigs
- Leaf buds and young twigs tomentose
Deciduous shrub or small tree. Native form flowers in late fall to early winter. Other species flower in late winter. The leaves turn yellow in fall. It prefers well-drained, moist, acidic, organic soil; full sun or partial shade; intolerant of drought; no serious pests.
Potential problems: Caterpillars, Japanese beetles, leaf gall aphids, weevils, scale, leafroller, leafminer, powdery mildew, occasional leaf spots, and rots. The foliage may be subject to damage from insect galls (small wasps) and Japanese beetles.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hamamelis
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Various medicinal uses, especially for skincare
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Distribution:
- North from Quebec throughout New England south to FL west to TX and OK, north through Missouri, IO, and MN
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are pollinated by noctuid moths. Wild turkeys eat the seeds. Deer may browse leaves. Fruit is eaten by small mammals and birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
- Edibility:
- Seeds
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seed capsules initially green, mature to light brown and become woody with age. Capsule contain two black seeds. A two-valved dihiscent capsule. Displays from October to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Yellow spidery flowers with four crinkly, ribbon-shaped petals that appear along the branches from October to December. Slender petaled flower. Inflorescence a cyme in leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- In-equilateral wavy margined dark green above and paler below leaf. Alternate, ovate to obovate, toothed, base oblique; leaf buds pubescent.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems zig-zag, pubescent; older glabrous, smooth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Fire
