HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA / WITCHHAZEL

HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA / AMERICAN WINTERBERRY

A Native Shrub with Fragrant, Late-Season Blooms

Hamamelis virginiana, commonly known as American Witch Hazel, is a native deciduous shrub admired for its fragrant yellow blooms in late fall, vibrant fall foliage, and attractive branching structure. Thriving in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soils, American Witch Hazel adds seasonal interest, texture, and ecological value to woodland gardens, naturalized landscapes, and ornamental shrub borders. Its unique flowering time provides color and fragrance when most other plants have finished blooming.

Why Choose American Witch Hazel?

Ornamental & Fragrant: Late-season yellow blooms provide visual and aromatic interest.
Wildlife Friendly: Flowers attract pollinators; seeds feed birds and small mammals.
Low Maintenance: Hardy, adaptable, and long-lived once established.
Seasonal Interest: Fall foliage turns golden-yellow, complementing late blooms.

Key Features:

Foliage Color: Medium green leaves turning golden-yellow in fall.
Flower Color: Bright yellow, fragrant blooms in late fall.
Height and Spread: Typically grows 10–20 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide.
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zones 3–8.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soils; tolerates loam, sandy, and slightly acidic soils.

Specifications:

Plant Size: 10–20 feet tall, 10–15 feet wide.
Growth Habit: Upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8.
Flowering: Late fall with fragrant yellow blooms.
Fall Interest: Golden-yellow leaves and unique late-season flowers.

Ideal Uses:

Woodland & Naturalized Landscapes: Perfect for understory planting and shaded borders.
Specimen Plantings: Provides late-season color and fragrance in garden settings.
Pollinator & Wildlife Gardens: Supports bees, birds, and small mammals.
Borders & Shrub Beds: Adds vertical structure, texture, and seasonal interest.

American Witch Hazel is a unique and ecologically valuable native shrub. Its late-season blooms, fragrant flowers, and fall color make it an excellent choice for woodland gardens, naturalized landscapes, and pollinator-friendly plantings.