A Beginner's Guide to Native Witchhazel

Highlights

Native witch-hazels are stunning native shrubs or small trees that flower at strange times: either the end of fall or the dead of winter, depending on the species. The leaves are also beautiful, turning buttery shades of yellow or reddish-orange (depending on species) in the fall. Easy to grow, witch-hazels prefer part-sun spots and can grow up to 20 feet tall. Plant one—or a few!—in a spot that allows you to enjoy their blooms from the comfort of indoors during colder months. Scroll on to meet two native witch-hazel options.

Witch-hazel

Latin name:

Hamamelis genus

Dig Deeper

Explore the history, types, and where to plant native witch-hazel

If you’re a beginner gardener looking for a plant that’s both beautiful and easy to grow, native witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana or H. vernalis) is a great choice. This native small tree has a lot to offer in looks and resilience, and it can thrive without requiring too much fuss.

In this article, we’ll walk through the four seasons of native witch-hazel, introduce two species, and learn how to plant.

Let’s dig in with something you may already be wondering…

Why is it called witch-hazel?

This native plant has nothing to do with witches, witchcraft, or Halloween, and it’s not related to hazel trees, either. This plant’s common name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word wych, which means bendable branch.

Early settlers and possibly Native Americans used witch-hazels bendable branches to detect groundwater and find spots to dig wells. (This type of early stick-finding-water belief is called ‘dowsing‘.)

The second part of its name—hazel—comes from its leaves, which resemble hazelnut tree leaves. But witch-hazels do not produce hazelnuts. 🤷‍♀️

Early European colonists’ beliefs inspired the names of many native plants

You can tell a lot about the history and beliefs of early European settlers from native plant common names. Some native plants with interesting backstories are…

Pawpaw trees comes from a mangled version of the Taíno language
Joe Pye Weed refers to a Native American Mohican leader with a Hollywood-worthy story
Black-Eyed Susan comes from a weepy 1700s European poem about sailors

If you’d like to read more, we have a fun round-up of strange common names for beautiful native plants.

But now, let’s move on from the name and meet the North American witch-hazel species.

Native witch-hazel vs. non-native witch-hazel

Witch-hazel shrubs are found all over the world, mostly in North America and Asia. All witch-hazels are in the Hamamelis genus.

If you want to plant native, you may need to pay attention to the Latin plant names when buying witch-hazel.

Here’s what’s to look for:

Non-native witch-hazels

Non-native witch-hazels include:

Japaneze Witch-hazel (Hamamelis japonica) is native to Japan
Chinese Witch-hazel (Hamamelis mollis) is native to China

Native witch-hazels

Three witch-hazels are native to North America:

Eastern Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Ozark or Spring Witch-hazel (Hamamelis vernalis)
Big-leaf Witch-hazel (Hamamelis ovalis)

FYI: You will probably not find Big-Leaf

Big-leaf Witch Hazel is an extraordinary plant—it was just discovered in 2004! It has a tiny native range nestled alongside a creek in Mississippi, and it’s not available in nurseries (yet).

Because of the Big-leaf’s tiny range, we will focus on the two other native witch-hazel species, which have huge native ranges and are commonly found in plant nurseries. See below to meet them both:

Native witch-hazels

Ozark or Spring Witch-hazel

Hamamelis vernalis

Blooms in winter (Jan/Feb)
Yellow-red flowers
Leaves turn reddish/orange
Not as tall: 10 feet
Native to the Midwest from Missouri to Arkansas, and east to Oklahoma

Eastern Witch-hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Blooms in late fall (Oct/Nov)
Yellow flowers
Leaves turn yellow
Gets tall: up to 20 feet
Huge native range from Quebec east to Minnesota and south to Florida

When do native witch-hazels bloom?

Native Witch-hazel bloom time depends on the species.

Eastern Witch-hazel blooms in the late fall (Oct/Nov)
Ozark or Spring Witch-hazel blooms in the late winter (Jan/Feb)

How do I know which one I’m planting?

To ensure you’re planting the native witch-hazel you want, make sure the name on the label matches the Latin name. Scroll up to find them.

Witch-hazel cultivars

There are many Ozark or Spring Witch-hazel cultivars—or plants that humans have curated. (Here is a short cultivar overview.) Witch-hazel cultivars offer different leaf and flower colors. Strangely, according to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, no cultivars for the Eastern Witch-hazel exist as of yet!

The Plant Native strongly encourages planting true native plants over cultivars. That said, a native cultivar (sometimes called ‘nativar‘) is always better than a non-native plant. Some Ozark or Spring Witch-hazel cultivars you may encounter include:

Hamamelis vernalis ‘Amethyst’ has purple flowers in the winter
Hamamelis vernalis ‘Autumn Embers’ has stunning fall color in the leaves

Native vs. Cultivar

Plant true native plants whenever possible. Cultivars (short for CULTivated VARieties) are selected and made by humans and do not offer the same benefits to bugs, birds, and animals that native plants do.

Witch-hazel’s healing properties

No doubt you’ve seen witch-hazel remedies in drug stores or beauty aisles. Witch-hazel has been known and used for its healing properties by Native Americans for thousands of years.

According to Marjorie Harris’s excellent Botanica North America, “The Osage used the bark to treat sores and ulcers of the skin much as we do today. The Potawatomi and Menominee used the twigs, either placed on hot rocks in a sweat lodge or boiled in water, to soothe aching muscles. The Mohegan used a decoction of the leaves for cuts, bruises, and insect bites.”

Witch-hazel helped start an American beauty icon: Ponds

Back in the 1840s, a man named Theron T. Pond from Utica, New York, began making tea from witch-hazel bark, called it “Pond’s Extract,” and marketed it as a salve for dozens of ailments. The business he started with that first witch-hazel product is still around today: Pond’s.

Witch-hazel throughout the seasons

Witch-hazel changes dramatically throughout the seasons, always giving something to enjoy.

This type of seasonal change is always a welcome sight, especially compared to boring non-native evergreen shrubs that normally fill landscapes, like boxwoods or yews.

Winter

In January and February, Ozark or Spring Witch-hazels bloom with yellow-red flowers—even in regions with snow. They are some of the earliest native plants to flower in the Northeast and Midwest.

Summer

In the summer, both Witch-hazel species fill their branches with leaves, providing shade.

Fall

In the fall, Ozark or Spring Witch-hazels leaves turn warm shades before falling. Their sculptural branches look amazing even without leaves and provide the perfect canvas for their flowers in the late winter.

Late fall/early winter

In the late fall, Eastern Witch-hazels blossom with yellow flowers alongside buttery yellow leaves. Their flowers smell amazing.

Witch-hazel is a host plant for dozens of butterflies and moths

Native witch-hazels are host plants to 69+ species of butterflies and moths. Without witch-hazels, these native animals would not survive.

What is a host plant?

A host plant is a specific plant that a bug, butterfly, or caterpillar eats, lives on, or lays its eggs on.

Where to plant witch-hazel

Witch-hazel is a plant you want to see in the fall or winter when almost everything in the garden is brown and dormant. Plant them where you can see them while inside your house.

Planting tips for Eastern Witch-hazel

There are so many great plants to pair with witch-hazel, two favorites are:

Aster. Asters bloom in the fall in blue or white, a perfect pairing with Eastern Witch-hazel’s yellow leaves.
Alumroot. Alumroot is a mostly evergreen, short native flower that likes shade and flowers in the early spring.

Both of these plants are perennials, so plant once and enjoy for years to come.

Planting tips for Ozark or Spring Witch-hazel

Carolyn Harstad, in her excellent book “Go Native,” also offers some helpful advice for Ozark Witch-Hazel pairings:

“Plant H. vernalis where you can enjoy viewing it from inside your warm, cozy house, and give it an underpinning of spring-flowering crocus and daffodils for a spring ‘pick-me-up.”

Thank you Carolyn for such a stellar recommendation, perfect for the drab days of early spring!

Where can I find native witch-hazel to plant?

Sadly, finding specific native plants can sometimes be challenging. Not many conventional plant nurseries stock a wide range of native plants.

To help you find the witch-hazel of your dreams, here are four plant sourcing ideas:

Witch-hazel

Where can I find seeds and plants?

Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette.) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.

Native Nursery List

100+ native nurseries makes finding one a breeze

Online Native Plant Sellers

We've included 100+ online resources to help

Society Plant Sales

Every state has a native plant society; find yours

Online Communities

Local Facebook groups are a great plant source

What to plant with witch-hazel

There are so many native flowers, shrubs, and trees that look stellar next to witch-hazel. To keep the blooming going, pair with native Azaleas, Mountain Laurel, and Ninebark, alongside Redbud, Sweetbay Magnolia, and Winterberry. You’ll have something to enjoy all year long.

Native witch-hazel is a fantastic addition to any garden, delivering year-round beauty with minimal effort. Whether it’s the memorable spring flowers, the vibrant fall foliage, or the elegant winter structure, this shrub offers something every season. By understanding its simple planting needs, you can easily enjoy the wonders of native Witch-hazel for decades. Explore our plant library to find more native favorites. Happy planting!

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