Native to Eastern North America
Deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 15-20 feet tall
Alternate, velvety leaves are irregularly shaped and turn shades of brown, yellow and purple in the fall.
Fruits, which are small green or brown capsules appearing in the fall, are edible.
High wildlife value by providing food to wild turkeys, deer, and other animals.
Requires rich, acidic soil and good drainage, but is tolerant of occasional flooding. Full sun is preferred.
Hardiness zones 3-8
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
The name witch-hazel actually derives from the Anglo-Saxon wych meaning "bendable" and is not related to witches at all. Nonetheless, it has gained a folk etymology and folkloric association with witches, and modern practitioners of witchcraft have taken to using its leaves for "heighten[ing] occult powers", keeping away evil and healing broken hearts. This connotation could have been further reinforced by the persistance of Druidic practices in the British Isles, as the witch-hazel's bloom aligns with the pagan celebration of Samhain which marks the beginning of "darker-half", or winter.
The witch-hazel has a strong healing connotation in many Iroquoian and Algonquian-speaking native cultures in North America, stemming from its use as a natural remedy for various skin issues and common ailments.
Specimen photographed at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Part of the Ornamental Woody Plants assignment (11/10/2021).
Plant History and Etymology
Hamamelis comes from the Ancient Greek ἁμαμηλίς (hamamēlís, "medlar”), and virginiana is a Latinization of the state of Virginia. American witchazel was used by various American Indian tribes such as the Osage and Potawatomi to health skin ulcers, sores and rashes, and the Iroquois brewed it in tea to treat dysentry and colds. The Mohegans of Connecticut also taught English settlers a dowsing technique using a Y-shaped witchhazel stick. Missionary Dr. Charles Hawes adopted the process of steam distillation of the twigs to be used for skin remedies from the natives and created "Hawes Extract" in 1846, one of the earliest commercialized remedies of this kind. During the Civil War the witch-hazel industry began to pick up steam, and today it remains booming. American Distilling, the largest witch-hazel company in the world, supplies the plant to cosmetics companies for toners and cleaners. Although the scientific backing for witch-hazel's effectiveness is limited, it is one of a select few plants approved by the FDA for non-prescription use and more than one million gallons of witch-hazel extract are sold in the US annually.
Design Considerations
This plant is easy to maintain and manipulate into a variety of shapes, and has a variety of features which create year-round interest. The uniquely-shaped, yellow-gold flowers bloom in October and persist throughout the winter with a strong fragrance. The leaves and bark are also showy, with the leaves changing to a variety of vibrant colors in the fall and the smooth, grayish-brown bark creating interest even when leaves and flowers are not present. Its hardiness, wildlife value and medicinal qualities make it a good candidate for residential plantings as well as more wild designs such as a planted woodland, and its resistance to flooding allow it to be placed closed to the shoreline.
Sources
John-Manuel Andriote. 2012. “The Mysterious Past and Present of Witch Hazel.” The Atlantic. theatlantic. November 6, 2012. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/11/the-mysterious-past-and-present-of-witch-hazel/264553/.
“Hamamelis Virginiana (Common Witchhazel, Common Witch Hazel, Southern Witch Hazel, Witch Hazel, Witch-Hazel) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” 2021. Ncsu.edu. 2021. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hamamelis-virginiana/.
“The Folklore and Medicine of Witch Hazel.” 2020. Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. January 22, 2020. https://chestnutherbs.com/the-folklore-and-medicine-of-witch-hazel/.