Hamamelis virginiana

RHS Plant Profile

Virginian witch hazel

RHS

Other common names

American witch hazel, snapping hazel nut, spotted alder, winter bloom

Synonyms

Hamamelis androgyna
Hamamelis riparia
Trilopus nigra var. catesbiana
Trilopus nigra
Trilopus riparia
Trilopus estivalis
Hamamelis virginica var. parvifolia
Trilopus rotundifolia
Hamamelis dioica
Hamamelis rotundifolia
Hamamelis corylifolia
Hamamelis estivalis
Trilopus virginica
Hamamelis nigra
Hamamelis virginiana var. orbiculata
Hamamelis caroliniana
Hamamelis parvifolia
Trilopus dentata
Hamamelis dentata
Hamamelis macrophylla
Hamamelis virginica var. macrophylla
Hamamelis hyemalis
Hamamelis virginiana var. parvifolia
Hamamelis communis
Trilopus parvifolia
Hamamelis virginiana var. angustifolia
Hamamelis virginica
Hamamelis monoica

Shrubs

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An erect large shrub up to 5m high (or occasionally a small tree up to 10m high) with smooth, broadly-oval, obovate, or nearly-round leaves, up to 15cm long, which open light green before becoming dark green. Clusters of sweetly-scented flowers with slightly-twisted, crimped, pale yellow petals, about 16mm long, appear from mid-autumn to late autumn, the flowers emerging while the leaves are still green and remaining as the leaves turn golden yellow and fall. H. virginiana is the species from which medicinal witch-hazel extract is made

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Hamamelidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Hamamelis are deciduous shrubs with broadly ovate or rounded leaves, sometimes colouring well in autumn, and fragrant yellow to red flowers with 4 narrow petals, borne on the leafless branches in late winter and early spring, or in autumn
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: E Canada, Midwest & East USA, Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, neutral or preferably slightly acidic soil which is well-drained but humus-rich and moisture-retentive in summer, in full sun or partial shade, in an open position with shelter from cold drying winds, and add mulch to conserve moisture; will also tolerate soils over chalk if they are deep and humus-rich; for more advice, see witch hazel cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as they are ripe (seeds may take two years to germinate), or by layering in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Hedging and screens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, honey fungus, phytophthora root rot and powdery mildews