Hamamelis virginiana L.

American Witch Hazel; Virginia Witch Hazel

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

American Witch Hazel is a native deciduous shrub in the Witch-Hazel family (Hamamelidaceae). It is one of two members of the genus native to Alabama. American Witch Hazel occurs sate wide. It grows in a variety of habitats from dry pine forests, rich hardwood ravines, and on the banks of streams. American Witch Hazel is usually a multi-trunked shrub ranging in height from three feet to fifteen feet. The ovate deciduous leaves are alternate on the stem and have a toothed or wavy margin. The leaves turn bright yellow or orange before falling. The fragrant flowers are usually produced after the leaves fall. Each yellow flower has very narrow strap shaped petals. Flowers may be tinged with orange and/or red, and may indicate hybridization with either Leonard's Witch Hazel (Hamamelis ovalis S.W. Leonard) a rare species of southern Alabama and Mississippi, or with Ozark Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis Sarg.), a species from the Ozark mountain region of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas. The fruit is a woody capsule that ejects the seed several feet when they are mature. The seed are shiny black in color. Witch Hazel extract is derived from the leaves and bark of this species. It is used to treat inflammation, swelling, and sore muscles. The witch-hazel cone gall aphid (Hormaphis hamamelidis) produces cone shaped galls on the upper surface of leaves. Spiny witch-hazel gall aphids (Hamamelistes spinosus) attack flower buds, causing the flowers to be replaced with spiny galls that some people mistake for the fruit. Neither insect causes serious or lasting damage to the plants. American Witch Hazel is available from many native plant nurseries. It grows well in a variety of soils, but preforms best in moist loamy soils. Best bloom occurs on plants growing in full or partial sun. This is one of the last native species to flower in the garden, adding late season color with foliage and flower. --A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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