Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) in the Witch Hazels Database

H. virginiana is a deciduous tree native to eastern Texas and other parts of North America. The leaves look much like those of the hazelnut tree. One old name for the tree is "snapping hazelnut" because the ripe seeds will snap and shoot a good distance. The forked twigs of Witch Hazel are made into "divining rods" in search of water. Distilled witch hazel is used as an astringent cleanser that is very gentle on the skin. I had a neighbor in her 70's that attributed the daily use of witch hazel to her beautiful complexion and youthful glow. Excuse me while I go dig that bottle out of the cupboard!

[ Reply to this comment | (3) ]

Common Witchhazel is a high quality large shrub, that sometimes can be a small multi-trunk tree. It is native from Nova Scotia and southeast Canada, much of New England and New York down into northern Florida to east Texas & Oklahoma to northern Wisconsin & lower Michigan in upland mesic woods or along woods. The leaves get to 6 inches long. It has nice smooth light gray to brown-gray bark. The small yellow flowers with strap-like petals are about 1/2 to 1 inch wide in clusters of 3 bloom from late September to early December. They don't become conspicuous until the golden yellow autumn foliage falls. It grows about 1 to 1.5 feet/year and lives about 100 to 200 years. It bears a dry, brown fruit of a fuzzy, two beaked woody capsule about 3/4 inches long that is present all year long. It is somewhat difficult to transplant because of developing deep, course lateral roots, but is best moved in spring B&B. Witchazels need a good quality soil from sandy to silty to good clay, but not for heavy or compacted clay soils. It is best to keep out of strong, dry windy sites as it does not tolerate strong drought well. Many nurseries sell some of this species. I only find a very few in the average homeowner's yard, but landscape designers and architects love to use some in estates, parks, campuses, office parks, and various other public places. I've see it growing wild in the woods of southeast Pennsylvania, northern Delaware, and southwest Michigan. It is a good shrub that should be used more. In recent times, the Chinese-Japanese Hybrid Witchazel has been used a lot instead because the Asian species has showier flowers in yellow, orange, or red. I still prefer the American species.

[ Reply to this comment | (1) ]