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Witch Hazel
Hamamelis
Witch Hazel blooms from February through March.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Witch Hazel
Plant it in part sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. Expect it to reach about 9.8 ft tall and 9.8 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 6 years.
When to plant Witch Hazel
Plant Witch Hazel in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 8 range, spring means April to June and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from February to March.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 5 in April.
Comes in 5 varieties across 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Witch Hazel
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
This is the source of the drugstore astringent: distillate from the bark, leaves and twigs of H. virginiana, an FDA-regulated over-the-counter product for external use. per Clemson and USDA
Bloom time splits by species
The native H. virginiana blooms in late fall (October to December); the vernal and Asian hybrids bloom in late winter (January to March). Pick for the season you want. per NC State and Clemson
Soil pH is flexible
NC State and Minnesota call for acidic soil, but Iowa State finds it tolerates slightly alkaline ground. Treat pH as a preference, not a hard requirement. per NC State and Iowa State
Cosmetic gall aphids
Cone and spiny leaf galls from gall aphids look odd but do no real harm, and need no spraying. The aphids alternate between witch hazel and birch. per NC State and University of Maryland
Pollinated by cold-active moths
The native's late-fall flowers open when almost no insects fly, and are pollinated by owlet moths that stay active in the cold, an off-season resource. per NC State
Deer-resistant, but fruit is eaten
Rated deer-resistant: browsers largely avoid the foliage. USDA notes, though, that white-tailed deer and other wildlife do eat the fruit and seed. per NC State and USDA
Ribbon petals, bright fall color
Flowers have four narrow, crinkled ribbon-shaped petals, lightly fragrant, in yellow, cream, copper or red by cultivar. The foliage turns a clear bright yellow in fall. per NC State
What pairs well with Witch Hazel
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Sea Thrift
Takes full sun to part sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring as this one finishes; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Aster
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Black-Eyed Susan
Takes full sun to part sun and low to moderate water; blooms in midsummer, extending the bed's season; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Lobelia
Shares part sun and moderate water; blooms in late spring, extending the bed's season; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Lavender
Takes full sun to part sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early summer, extending the bed's season; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Trumpet Vine
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in early summer, extending the bed's season; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; climbs to 26 ft behind it, height without the footprint.
Calibrachoa
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in late spring, extending the bed's season; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Fan Flower
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in late spring, extending the bed's season; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
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