Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel Plants for Sale: The Native Shrub That Blooms in Late Fall

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a native flowering shrub or small tree that grows 15 to 20 feet tall and opens fragrant, ribbon-like yellow flowers from October to December. American witch hazel is hardy in USDA zones 3–8 and grows in full sun to partial shade. TN Nursery ships bare-root witch hazel plants, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

Witch hazel belongs to the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, and grows wild in woodlands from Nova Scotia and Minnesota south to Florida and Texas. Gardeners also know Hamamelis virginiana as American witch hazel, common witch hazel, autumn witch hazel and winterbloom. The bark and leaves are the traditional source of witch hazel extract, the soothing astringent sold in drugstores.

• Botanical name: Hamamelis virginiana, witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae)
• Also called: American witch hazel, common witch hazel, autumn witch hazel, winterbloom
• Flowers: fragrant yellow flowers with four crinkled, strap-shaped petals, October–December
• Foliage: 3- to 6-inch oval leaves with wavy edges that turn golden yellow in fall
• Form: multi-stemmed, vase-shaped shrub or small tree, 15–20 feet tall and wide
• Wildlife value: late-season nectar for bees and moths; seeds for songbirds, wild turkey and small mammals
• What ships: bare-root plants in 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft and 3–4 ft sizes; Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free and 25-shrub wholesale packs

When Does Witch Hazel Bloom?

American witch hazel blooms in fall, from October to December, often as the golden leaves are dropping. The fragrant yellow witch hazel flowers last 3 to 4 weeks and open again on mild days after frost.

Each witch hazel flower has four narrow, crinkled petals about three-quarters of an inch long that curl back on cold nights and unfurl in the sun. Hamamelis virginiana is the latest-blooming native shrub in eastern North America, which makes witch hazel a standout plant for fall and early winter interest.

Is Witch Hazel a Tree or a Shrub?

Witch hazel is both: Hamamelis virginiana naturally grows as a large, multi-stemmed shrub, and it can be trained as a small tree with a single trunk. Left unpruned, witch hazel forms a broad shrub 15 to 20 feet tall and about as wide.

For a witch hazel tree, choose the strongest stem on a young plant and remove the other stems at the base each late winter. In a few years, the plant forms a small tree with an open, rounded crown that suits a patio corner, a front walk or a lawn specimen.

Where Does Witch Hazel Grow Best?

Witch hazel grows best in partial shade to full sun, in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. Witch hazel is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8 and adapts to loam, sandy soil and clay.

In the wild, witch hazel grows in the understory of hardwood forests and along stream banks, so the shrub thrives under tall trees and at woodland edges. Water witch hazel weekly during dry spells in the first two summers and keep 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the root zone.

How Fast Does Witch Hazel Grow?

Witch hazel grows at a slow to moderate rate of about 1 foot per year, reaching 15 to 20 feet tall at maturity. Bare-root witch hazel plants usually reach blooming size within 2 to 4 years of planting.

Witch hazel seed capsules take a full year to ripen. When the capsules dry the following fall, they split open and launch their shiny black seeds up to 30 feet away.

What Grows Well With Witch Hazel?

Native shrubs and woodland plants grow well with witch hazel. Winterberry holly adds bright red berries beside the yellow witch hazel flowers in late fall. A redbud tree or white dogwood gives spring flowers at the same woodland edge, so the planting blooms at both ends of the year. Smooth hydrangea fills the summer gap with white flower heads, and Christmas fern adds evergreen fronds at the base. For hedgerows, wildlife habitat or a large native planting, our witch hazel seedlings offer the same species in bulk. Browse more options in our shrubs collection.

How Do You Plant a Bare-Root Witch Hazel?

Plant a bare-root witch hazel while it is dormant, from November through April, with the crown at soil level in a hole twice as wide as the roots. Space witch hazel plants 8 to 12 feet apart for a screen, or 15 feet apart as individual specimens.

At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we grow witch hazel in the field, dig the plants while dormant and ship them bare root. Each witch hazel arrives as a leafless young shrub with its roots packed in moist material.

1. Soak the roots in water for 2 to 4 hours.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root spread and as deep as the roots.
3. Set the crown level with the soil surface and spread the roots out.
4. Backfill with native soil mixed with compost, firm gently and water deeply.
5. Add 2 to 3 inches of shredded leaves or bark mulch around the plant.

Planting & Growing Information

Botanical Name: Hamamelis virginiana
Plant Family: Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel family)
Ships: Bare root, 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft or 3–4 ft
Planting Zone: 3–8
Height at Maturity: 15–20 feet tall and about as wide
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate, about 1 foot per year
Spacing: 8–12 feet for screens; 15 feet for specimens
Sun or Shade: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate; keep soil evenly moist
Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil; adapts to clay
Bloom Season: October–December
Flower Color: Yellow
Fall Color: Golden yellow
Native Range: Eastern North America, Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas
Care: Prune in late winter or early spring to shape the plant or train a single trunk.
Plant Attributes: Native, fragrant fall flowers, golden fall color, shade tolerant, natural screen

Witch Hazel FAQ

How tall does witch hazel grow?

American witch hazel grows 15 to 20 feet tall and about as wide, as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree.

Where does witch hazel grow?

Witch hazel grows wild in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Minnesota and Texas, and grows in gardens in USDA zones 3 through 8.

Does witch hazel smell good?

Yes. Witch hazel flowers have a light, spicy-sweet fragrance that carries on mild fall days.

Can witch hazel grow in shade?

Yes. Witch hazel grows well in partial shade under tall trees, and more sun gives a denser shape and more flowers.

When is the best time to plant witch hazel?

The best time to plant bare-root witch hazel is during dormancy, from November through April.

What is the difference between witch hazel plants and witch hazel extract?

Witch hazel extract is distilled from the bark and leaves of the Hamamelis virginiana plant, the same native shrub TN Nursery grows and ships for landscapes.

Grown and Shipped by TN Nursery

TN Nursery has grown hardy native plants since 1959, more than 65 years of experience, and has supplied plants to major U.S. landmarks like the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we grow witch hazel in our own fields and ship each plant bare root during the dormant season, so it roots in before spring growth. Want to learn more first? Read Enchanting Witch Hazel Shrub, Types of Native Shrubs and Hedges and Best Native Pollinator Plants for Fall Gardens on our garden blog.