About the Witch Hazel Tree

The American witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana is a perennial large shrub or small tree native to thickets and moist woodlands from Florida and Texas to Quebec and Nova Scotia. Witch hazel is useful for naturalistic landscaping and borders.

Identification

Witch hazel grows between 10 and 15 feet tall on average with an equal spread. It has multiple trunks, smooth grayish-brown bark, crooked branches and an irregular crown. The medium-green leaves are oval-shaped or round, with deep veins and scalloped margins. The tree produces fragrant yellow blossoms in the fall after the leaves drop, followed by 1/2-inch hairy brown fruits that ripen the following summer.

Cultivation

Witch hazel is hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 9. It prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil and full sunlight, although it is also shade-tolerant. Floridata indicates that witch hazel has a shallow root system and does not do well in drought conditions.

Benefits

Witch hazel produces an oil that is widely used as an ingredient in skin care products and pain relief medication. It has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant properties, according to Floridata. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center indicates that native Americans made a tea from witch hazel leaves. Witch hazel is also an important food source for deer, beaver and various birds.

References

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Hamamelis Virginiana
• Floridata: Hamamelis Virginiana
• University of Connecticut: Hamamelis Virginiana

Resources

• The United States National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map