Hamamelis virginiana – Witch Hazel

General Information: A handsome shrub or small tree native to the forests of Eastern North America. Witch Hazel is widely known for astringent properties, and extracts are often found in pharmacies. While the landscaping features of this plant are perhaps less publicly known than the medicinal properties, there is still much to be said about them: the ability to grow as a shrub or a tree, dazzling autumn foliage, extremely interesting flowers, and wildlife attraction, just to name a few. As a solitary plant, Witch Hazel offers year-round appeal, but the effect is greatly amplified when communities of these plants are established. The shrubs send out large leaves in early spring; a welcome sign after the long winter months. In summer, the plants boast a dense canopy of green foliage, which often obscure the developing seedpods. By late summer and early fall, the previous year’s seed pods ripen. When autumn is in full swing, the foliage develops a strongly eye-catching golden coloration. The real magic of Witch Hazel is in late fall and early winter, however. After every other plant has gone dormant for the season, Witch Hazels send out their wispy, vibrantly yellow, tentacle-like flowers. These flowers fill the air with a delicate, misty-sweet, earthy scent characterized by notes of morning dew, freshly cut grass, and the earthy scent of the forest floor. A plant which flowers against the gray backdrop of late fall and early winter is always a welcome sight!

Cultivation Details: Witch Hazels can be trained to grow as a small tree, or pruned to develop a shrub-like habit. These plants are rather intolerant of root disturbance, so they should be planted directly into a permanent location. Witch Hazel is an excellent aesthetic companion plant to other Eastern US native trees and shrubs such as Juneberry (Amelanchier spp), Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and many others. They are equally suitable for growing as a solitary specimen plant, or in colonies to form a hedgerow. They are equally happy in open, sunny settings as they are in the shade of a mature forest. Consider Witch Hazel for planting along fences, as a border or foundation accent, in rewilding projects, in medicinal herb gardens, or in shady forest gardens. We recommend planting them in a spot where each of their seasonal sensory gifts can be enjoyed!

Growing Requirements: Plant in full sun to nearly full shade. We have observed plants in shady areas develop more of a tree-like habit, while full sun specimens become bushier. Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Tolerates clay soils only if amended first with organic matter.  Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Suitable for mildly acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils.

Fun Facts: The common name “Witch Hazel” has several possible origins. The term “witch” may reference an Old English word for “flexible,” describing the branches of the plant. Another possible source of the name attributes divine properties to the plant’s branches, which are used for dowsing, an activity commonly associated with witchcraft. Yet another possible origin of the name involves the plant’s seed dispersal mechanism and the mysterious noises they cause. Witch Hazel is one of the world’s fastest plants. The plant’s seed pods eject the seeds at speeds of up to 30 feet per second – that’s just over 20 miles per hour! Since the seeds are so light, they only travel several feet away from the parent plants, but it’s enough to make an impact. It is said that the early settlers of New England determined these noises to be the work of forest Elves summoned by witches that had set up portals near these trees. They determined that the sound of the pods popping and the seeds landing, which happen so fast that they seem to come from two places at once, were Elven footsteps attempting to lure strangers away from wandering too close to the witch’s portal. Since this mischief always took place near these types of trees, they became known as Witch Hazels.