Common Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana (HAMAMELIDACEAE)
Planting and Growing Witch Hazel
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow common witch hazel in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
- Flowers, foliage, fruit, pods, and seeds of common witch hazel
- Growing conditions for common witch hazel
- When to plant common witch hazel
- How to plant common witch hazel
- How to prune common witch hazel
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of common witch hazel
- Landscape uses of common witch hazel
- Pest and disease control for common witch hazel
Growing Common Witch Hazel
Several cultivars of medium- to slow-growing, mostly upright, open, spreading, irregular or vase-shaped, deciduous trees, 15–25 ft. (4.5–7.5 m) tall and wide, with alternate, deep green, textured, round leaves, 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) long, with light green, smooth undersides, turning gold, orange, yellow in autumn.
Witch Hazel Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Seeds
Many yellow, wavy-rayed, fragrant, ribbonlike flowers, to 1-1/2 in. (38 mm) wide, with yellow brown centers, borne in clusters on spurs, in autumn as leaves turn color and fall, form dry, capsulelike pods in early autumn that crack open suddenly, throwing seed.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–9. Hardy. Best in cold-winter climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 8–10 ft. (2.4–3 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist. Fertilize quarterly. Prune sparingly to promote bushy growth. Propagate by grafting, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, containers, edgings, fencelines, paths in cottage, formal, meadow, small-space, woodland gardens. Bark is source of astringent medicinal tincture. Pest and disease resistant.