Witch-hazel - Common

New and Old in Autumn

The Common Witch-Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, is a deciduous shrub or small shade loving tree. It will have flowers  from the current season and maturing fruit from the previous season on the same stem.

Each flower has four slender strap like yellow or orange petals. It is extraordinary in its flowering habits. It flowers in late October to early December. Many times its' slender yellow petals are the only signs of color in the dormant woods.

Witch-hazel is pollinated by a winter moth. After pollination, the fruit become dormant for the winter and develop over the following growing season. They  mature in the fall, 10-12 months after pollination.

Seeds are dispersed by the exploding seed capsule and may be flung up to 30 feet away. Another means of dispesal is when they are eaten and excreted by birds. Witch-hazel seeds germinate the following spring.

Early growth is slow, and in fact remains slow throughout the life of the tree in its typical shady habitat.

As individuals, witch-hazel probably does not live more than 100 years, but they reproduce from root sprouts, and clones may live for a very long time.

*Fruit and Flowers on Same Stem

*Yellow Flowers in Autumn

*Shade Loving