Common Witch-Hazel

Tagged as: Four Season Landscape, Butterflies, Large Deciduous Shrubs, Midwest, native, Salt-Tolerant Trees and Shrubs, Trees and Shrubs That Attract Birds

Botanical Name: Hamamelis virginiana
Common Name: Common Witch-hazel

Updated 4/2012

Click on a photo to enlarge

form	fall color	flowers

Height: 15-25' Spread: 15-20' Habit/Form: Upright to rounded Growth Rate: Medium  Zone: 3-8

Cultural Requirements: When planted in part shade it has a more open habit while in full sun it has a denser, rounded habit. Performs best in moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter, but will also tolerate poorly drained clay soil. Mulch to maintain a moist root environment. Avoid dry conditions.

Ornamental Characteristics: Large multi-stemmed shrub with an irregular branching habit. Large, rounded, dark green leaves turn a handsome yellow in the fall and often hang on into winter. Interesting, yellow, strap-like, fragrant flowers are one of the last flowers to appear in the fall, but are often hidden by the leaves. The mature fruit capsule splits 12 months after flowering, expelling seeds.

Uses in the Landscape: Witch-hazels grow naturally along wood edges, making it a great plant for the back of a shrub border, naturalizing, or woodland garden. Native to the Midwest.

Butterfly Caterpillar/larval Host: Silver-Spotted Skipper

Birds Attracted: Robin, junco, titmouse, cardinal, and many others

Plant Appeal for Birds: Seeds

Aerial Salt Tolerance: Highest degree of salt tolerance; use in most exposed areas

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