Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Family: Hamamelidaceae · Also called American Witch Hazel, Winterbloom, Snapping Hazel, Trilopus virginiana
Earthy & Warm · Autumn bloomer
Witch hazel is autumn's final act of defiance, just as all other flowers have finished, it unfurls spidery ribbons of yellow, orange, or red from bare or near-bare branches. The threadlike petals can curl up in cold and re-open in warmth, making them surprisingly frost-tolerant. When everything else is done, witch hazel is just getting started.
mysticism, inspiration, magic
In the Victorian language of flowers, witch hazel means “A spell is upon you”. The 'witch' in witch hazel has nothing to do with witchcraft, it comes from Old English 'wych' (bendable). The forked branches were used as divining rods to find water. Native Americans taught colonists to distill the bark and leaves into the astringent tonic still sold in pharmacies worldwide. It's one of the few plants that flowers and disperses seed simultaneously.
Did You Know?
Witch hazel seed pods build up pressure over months and then explosively shoot seeds up to 30 feet, you can hear the pods popping on autumn nights. The plant blooms so late (often November-December) that its pollinator is a specialist moth that flies in near-freezing temperatures. Commercial witch hazel extract is still made from wild-harvested bark in Connecticut.
Understory of deciduous forests, stream banks, and rocky woodland
Witch Hazel is native to Eastern North America. It naturally grows in understory of deciduous forests, stream banks, and rocky woodland.
Scent Profile
“A distinctive spicy-sweet fragrance with citrus undertones, witch hazel flowers release their scent most strongly on mild autumn days, creating unexpected pockets of perfume in the late-season garden.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameHamamelis virginiana
- FamilyHamamelidaceae
- Native ToEastern North America
- Bloom SeasonAutumn
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
The 'witch' in witch hazel has nothing to do with witchcraft, it comes from Old English 'wych' (bendable). The forked branches were used as divining rods to find water. Native Americans taught colonists to distill the bark and leaves into the astringent tonic still sold in pharmacies worldwide. It's one of the few plants that flowers and disperses seed simultaneously.