Witch Hazel Seedlings (Hamamelis virginiana) Details
American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a native deciduous shrub or small tree of eastern North America that flowers in fall, from October to December, when most of the garden has gone quiet. These witch hazel seedlings are young plants sold in bulk for hedgerows, woodland edges, restoration sites and home landscapes.
- Hardiness zones: USDA zones 3–8
- Mature size: 15–20 feet tall and about as wide
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic
- Sizes and packs: 6–12 inches or 12–18 inches tall, in packs of 50, 100 or 500
- Shipping: Ships bare-root by UPS between November 15 and 29
Why Grow Witch Hazel Seedlings?
Witch hazel brings color to the garden in the months when little else does. Its fragrant, ribbon-like yellow flowers open along the stems, often while its golden fall leaves are still dropping. Moths and native bees visit the blooms for late-season nectar, and wild turkeys and small mammals eat the seeds. Planting seedlings in quantity is an affordable way to fill a native hedge, a screen or a woodland border.
What Soil Does Witch Hazel Need?
Humus-rich ground, like the soil at a woodland edge, suits witch hazel best. It adapts to clay and loves the damp soil along streams. On sandy sites, a little extra watering keeps it lush. Working leaf mold or compost into the planting area adds organic matter and helps hold moisture.
How Does Witch Hazel Grow and Where Should You Plant It?
Witch hazel grows at a medium rate into a multi-stemmed, spreading shrub with an open, irregular crown. You can also prune it to a single trunk and grow it as a small tree. It flowers most heavily in more sun, but it still grows well beneath taller trees. Plant it along woodland margins and paths where the fragrance can be enjoyed, as a native hedge or screen, or as a specimen near a window where the fall flowers are easy to see.
How Do You Plant Bare-Root Witch Hazel Seedlings?
Plant your seedlings soon after they arrive, any time from November to April while they are dormant and the ground is workable. Soak the roots in water for about an hour. Dig a hole wide and deep enough to spread the roots without bending them. Set the seedling at the same depth it grew in the nursery, backfill with the soil you removed, firm it gently and water well. If you plan to plant a few days later, keep the roots moist and cool.
How Do You Care for Witch Hazel?
Water weekly through the first growing season, and during dry spells after that. A 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch keeps the roots cool and moist. Keep it a few inches away from the stems. Witch hazel needs little pruning. For a tidy shape, trim shoots at the base and prune in late winter or early spring, after flowering ends. It is naturally hardy and easy to grow.
Why Buy Witch Hazel Seedlings From TN Nursery?
We grow more than 200,000 witch hazel at our Tennessee nursery, so every seedling pack comes fresh-dug from our own stock. Buying in bulk keeps the cost per plant low, whether you are planting a backyard hedge or a conservation project. Browse our other tree seedlings to build a mixed native planting. If you would rather have fewer, larger plants for a quicker effect, our Witch Hazel page offers the same species at 1–2 feet and 2–3 feet tall.
TN Nursery grows all its own plants and has been family-owned and operated since 1959. We are a USDA-certified online plant nursery that ships plants to all states, and we have supplied some of the largest names in the United States, including the Discovery Channel, Arlington National Cemetery, the US Air Force and NASA.
