Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The Vernal Witchhazel will be one of the very first plants to welcome spring when it blooms in late February or early March. The star-shaped flowers have extended yellow straps and red calyces. The flowers are frost-resistant, fragrant, and bloom in clusters on bare branches. During late spring, rounded leaves in a light green hue with hints of bronze emerge. By fall, the leaves of the Hamamelis vernalis turn a vibrant and festive buttery yellow.
This is a large shrub with woody open branches and can be used to create borders or hedges or provide color and visual interest to an ample outdoor space. Vernal Witchhazel is deciduous, but the foliage often stays on the plant throughout the winter, and the branches are only completely bare for a short period of time. This plant is native to the southern and central areas of North America. Witch Hazel spreads via underground stolons and will create large colonies. This plant is a hardy, adaptable perennial in USDA zones 4 through 8.
Vernal Witchhazel Care
Vernal Witchhazel does best in full sun and moist soil, but it is tolerant and can handle partial sun and dry soil. The soil pH can be acidic or neutral. This plant has low water needs and will need a drink when the top several inches of soil dries out. Apply a balanced plant food 3 to 4 times during the late spring and early summer.
Prune to shape during the spring after the flowering is done. Remove suckers or stolons to manage the size of the plant.
Vernal Witchhazel Spacing
This perennial has an upright, branching growth habit and will grow 8 to 10 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide. Space shrubs 12 to 17 feet apart.
Vernal Witchhazel Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8 |
| Plant Type: Bushes |
| Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 8 - 10 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 10 - 12 Feet |
| Spacing: 10 - 12 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): Orange, Red, Yellow |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: Late Winter |
| Foliage Type: Deciduous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green, Yellow |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Winter Interest |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Birds, Butterflies |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Hedges & Privacy, Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Vernal Witchhazel |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: HAMAMELIS VERNALIS |
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
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
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: AZ, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, 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.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!