Common Witchhazel

Common Witchhazel

Hamamelis viginiana

Hamamelicaceae (Witchhazel Family)

▲ plant in bed near northeast entrance to Karls Hall on MSU campus

▲ foliage

▲ ▼ flowering plants in September through November

Location on campus: in rectangle bed outside main (northeast) entrance to Karls Hall; on south side of west entrance to Ellis Hall

Hamamelis virginiana: Common Witchhazel

• leaves alternate, simple, deciduous, obovate, similar to but slightly more elongated than Vernal Witchhazel; leaves 3-6" long and 1/2 as wide; leaf green on top, glaucous or pubescent on veins underneath (5-7 vein pairs); good yellow fall color
• stems slightly zig-zag, brownish, pubescent when young; continuous green pith
• flowers are yellow, with 4 crinkly petals, usually in mid to late autumn; somewhat fragrant
• grows as a small tree or large shrub with rounded open crown, 15' tall and 10-15' wide, occasionally larger
• likes full sun to mostly shade and moist soils
• medium growth rate
• native to Missouri