Hamamelis virginiana

american witchhazel, witch hazel, common witch hazel, winterbloom
Family

Hamamelidaceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

crenate, dentate, lobed, toothed, undulate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

oblong, elliptic, obovate, ovate, suborbicular

Growth Form

shrub, tree

Flower Color

brown, green, orange, red, yellow

Flower Petals

4

Flower Month

September - December

Height (meters)

5.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Leaf Retention

Deciduous


Wetland Class

FACU

Cultural Information

A myth of witchcraft held that a forked branch of Witch-hazel could be used to locate underground water. First Nations used witch-hazel leaves for tea. (Athenic)

Animal Use

Birds eat the fruits (small brown capsules). Browsed by deer and beaver. Seeds-granivorous birds, Seeds-Small mammals

Natural History

Commercial witch-hazel, an astringent liniment, is an alcohol extract of witch- hazel bark. Witch-hazel oil has been used in medicines, eye-washes, after shave lotions and salves for soothing insect bites, burns and poison ivy rashes. (Kershaw)

Habitat

Rich or dry woods.