Hamamelis virginiana
treeWitch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a native shrub or small tree of eastern woodlands, 15 to 30 ft tall, with a vase-shaped, layered form and broad leaves that turn clear gold in fall - just as its curious, spidery yellow flowers with strap-like petals unfurl, blooming improbably late, from October into winter, often while the spent leaves still cling. It is the source of the familiar astringent "witch hazel" extract used in skin care, distilled from its bark, twigs, and leaves, and those are its harvested parts. Easy, hardy, and shade-tolerant, it is grown for that astringent bark and as a four-season ornamental with fragrant, off-season bloom and good fall color.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 10 days
Harvest
~200 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
15-20 ft apart
Planting Depth
Set root flare at soil line
Soil pH
5.0-6.5
Soil Type
Moist, acidic, humus-rich
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 9
When to Fertilize
Light spring feed if needed
Fertilizer
Acidic or balanced; low needs
Witch hazel is an adaptable woodland-edge plant: full sun gives the best flowering and form, but it takes partial shade well, and it wants moist, acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil (though it tolerates clay). Plant in spring or fall, mulch, and water in dry spells, as it dislikes drought. It grows at a moderate pace into a broad, suckering large shrub; remove suckers for a tree form or let it widen into a thicket. It needs little pruning - shape it after flowering. Largely free of serious pests, it is an easygoing native for a shady border, woodland edge, or naturalized planting.
Direct sow
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
Nov 15
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cause cone-shaped galls on leaves; cosmetic only, and no treatment is needed on a healthy shrub
Chew the foliage in summer; hand-pick in the cool morning
White film on leaves in humid shade; give airflow and avoid crowding
Harvest the bark and twigs from prunings, and the leaves in summer, for the traditional astringent preparation; the inner bark, twigs, and leaves are all used. Take twigs and bark when you prune in late winter or after flowering, peel and dry the bark, and dry the leaves in the shade. Because it is grown as an ornamental too, most harvest comes from routine prunings and the suckers you remove, so the shrub stays shapely and full.
Witch hazel is not a food plant - it is grown for the astringent witch hazel extract distilled from its bark, twigs, and leaves, a classic household skin-care preparation used externally. In the garden its great gift is its season: spidery, faintly fragrant yellow flowers that open in late fall and winter when nothing else blooms, set against gold autumn foliage, on an easy, shade-tolerant native shrub.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.