Search
Close this search box.

Plant Search

shrub

Common Witchhazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Add To My Wish List

 
Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) at The Growing Place

Common Witchhazel flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) at The Growing Place

Common Witchhazel

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  20 feet

Spread:  20 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Description:

A large native shrub with an upright, wide-spreading habit of growth; fall is its season to shine, with fragrant bright yellow strap-shaped flowers and golden fall foliage (which often hides the flowers); grow where space is not a problem

Growing Place Choice Plants

Our Growing Place Choice plants are chosen because they are strong performers year after year, staying attractive with less maintenance when planted in the right place.

Learn more about this promotion!

Ornamental Features

Common Witchhazel has fragrant yellow strap-like flowers along the branches in late fall, which are interesting on close inspection. It has green deciduous foliage. The serrated round leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Common Witchhazel is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Common Witchhazel is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Common Witchhazel will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Screening  Naturalizing 
Applications
Flowers  Fall Color 
Ornamental Features