Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Nature's grand finale that saves its spectacular show for when all other shrubs have gone dormant. This native treasure produces clusters of fragrant, spidery yellow flowers in late fall and early winter, often while snow is on the ground. Beyond its unique blooming time, witch hazel offers excellent yellow fall color and interesting architectural branching that adds winter interest to the garden.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
15-30 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Witch Hazel in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shrub →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Witch Hazel · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasional Flooding. Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12-24 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Seed capsules initially green, mature to light brown and become woody with age. Capsule contain two black seeds. A two-valved dehiscent capsule. Displays from October to November.
Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Capsule. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Fall, Winter
Edibility: Seeds
History & Origin
Origin: ‘Green Thumb’Green leaves with band of yellow. Yellow flowers ‘Harvest Moon’Vase-shaped habit, lemon yellow flowers 'Little Suzie' 5 ft shrub with yellow fall color ‘Mohonk Red’Flowers are red at the base and fade to straw color at the tips ‘Quasimodo’2-3 ft tall, orange flowers, ‘Green Thumb’, ‘Harvest Moon’, 'Little Suzie', ‘Mohonk Red’, ‘Quasimodo’
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Erosion, Fire
- +Attracts: Moths, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Flowers are pollinated by noctuid moths. Wild turkeys eat the seeds. Deer may browse leaves. Fruit is eaten by small mammals and birds.
- +Edible: Seeds
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Azalea
Shares similar acidic soil preferences and partial shade requirements
Rhododendron
Compatible acid-loving shrub that thrives in similar woodland conditions
Ferns
Natural understory companions that appreciate similar moist, shaded conditions
Hostas
Shade-tolerant perennials that complement witch hazel's woodland garden aesthetic
Japanese Maple
Compatible understory tree with similar soil and moisture requirements
Astilbe
Moisture-loving perennial that thrives in partial shade beneath witch hazel
Wild Ginger
Native groundcover that naturalizes well in witch hazel's preferred habitat
Heuchera
Provides attractive foliage contrast and tolerates similar growing conditions
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that can inhibit growth and damage witch hazel
Pine Trees
Creates overly acidic soil conditions and competes aggressively for nutrients
Mint
Invasive spreading habit can overwhelm and compete with witch hazel's root system
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance, native plant vigor
Common Pests
Generally pest-free, occasional aphids
Diseases
Very disease resistant, occasional leaf spot