Other common names:
Common Witch Hazel Family: Witch Hazel Family (Hamamelidaceae) Distinctive features: Shrub Similar species: • Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) Flowers: Autumn, Winter; Yellow; 4 parts (petals); With scraggly petals. They bloom in late fall, and can sometimes be seen through the winter (even in December and January)! Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Entire; Broadly roundish. Height:
5-7 m (16-22 ft) Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas; This shrub or small tree likes to grow in the woods, but not in the deep shade. It seems to prefer clearings. Books: Trees in Canada: 272 Shrubs of Ontario: 151 Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 168 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Common.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: virginiana: of Virginia, Virginian Photographs:
209 photographs available, of which 9 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
The leaves are roundish, with an offset base.
Witch Hazel flowers are perhaps its best-known feature. They appear in late fall, and often stay in bloom long after the leaves have fallen. You may even see flowers still out in January!
This photo shows flowers in bloom in November. It also shows how they typically grow in small clusters along a branch.
A close-up of a flower. Note the scraggly appearance of the petals. This is distinctive (ie, no other flower looks like this).
These are flowers that are all done, in the winter.
Seed pods.
Seed pods that have opened in the late fall. The seed pods from the previous year may still be on the plant as next year's flowers are blooming.
These pods will open explosively, suddenly flinging the seeds some distance.
