Plant · P-918

Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Witch hazel is a small understorey shrub whose whole reputation rests on doing the opposite of every other plant around it: it drops its leaves in autumn and then blooms, crinkly yellow flowers opening from September into winter when almost nothing else is flowering. The bark, twig and leaf are the source of the astringent witch hazel extract sold worldwide for cuts, bruises and skin irritation. Ripe seed capsules burst explosively the following autumn, throwing seed several yards, and grouse, turkey, deer and black bear all take some of the fall crop. It tolerates full sun to fairly deep shade and most soil textures, but calcareous or dry limy ground is where it struggles most.