Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a tough, adaptable wildlife supporter for your garden. The native shrub provides good late-season nectar on fragrant, bright yellow flowers in late fall and plenty of pretty foliage for gardeners to enjoy in summer and fall. The dense growth of this shrub provides hiding spots for birds and other small wildlife, and new spring growth starts out bluish-green with a bronze tinge. In fall, the leaves turn bright yellow.
Hardy in zones 4 through 8, this large native shrub is an excellent screen or natural hedge and border plant. It reaches 8 to 12 feet high at maturity and 6 to 10 feet wide. They can grow in full or part sun and can be found in the wild growing in woodland areas under the dappled shade of trees. Be sure to place a few around your landscape for the year-round color and for wildlife shelter. Finally, witch-hazel extract is said to have many natural remedies in the home.
Common Witchhazel Care
Choose a spot for your witchhazel that gets full sun or at least 4 to 6 hours a day of light. It prefers slightly acidic soil, so amend as needed with lots of organic matter. Be sure the soil drains well and add some organic mulch after planting to help retain top moisture. If the landscape has clay soil and poor drainage, it can still survive by adjusting watering.
Water the shrub regularly, especially in hot summer months. There is no need to fertilize this native shrub, but you can top dress the soil with new organic matter each year to ensure nutrients replenish. The plant does not require any regular pruning. In spring, remove dead, crossing, or weak branches. Trim lower basal sprouts and suckers to maintain its tree-like shape or the shrub might begin to grow more like a thicket.
Common Witchhazel Spacing
Space witch hazel about 8 feet apart to avoid crowding once it is full size. If you want it to form a hedge or thicket, place the plants about 6 feet apart.
Common Witch Hazel Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 8-12 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 6-10+ Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Orange, Yellow
- Flower Description
- Orange, Yellow
- Bloom Time
- Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Interest, Winter Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Common Witchhazel
- Botanical Name
- HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
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