One of winter's flowers, the witch hazel, is a pleasant surprise to see while walking in the woods in late autumn. This tall shrub is covered with star like yellow flowers and is native to North America. Witch hazel, one of winter's flowers, has developed this late blooming strategy and takes advantage of pollinators at a time when there is not much else for them.

Witch hazel hamamelis virginiana may begin blooming in the early days of October before their yellow leaves have made it to the ground. More often they will flower after the leaves have fallen and some of these shrubs may be flowering in December. Witch hazel usually grows in a forest or wooded area and is not normally seen unless you wander in.

The yellow witch hazel flower consists of four ribbon like petals which attract bees and flys where they can acquire tiny bits of nectar and sticky pollen as a treat. During November and December there are very few insects around so the temperature needs to be warm enough for them to fly for the flowers to be pollinated. Needless to say because of this these plants do not produce many witch hazel fruit.

In a winter garden, the witch hazel shrub is a must for their aroma and color. This is the time when few plants are blooming so the witch hazel brings in some radiance to a landscape with yellow to cream colored flowers. The petals are so thin and delicate that they have a spidery impression on some bare branches. Witch hazel is grown as a single stemmed or multi-stemmed shrub that can reach from 12 to 20 feet tall and can spread 10 to 15 feet wide. The new wood on the plant is brown and a little fuzzy looking and will turn a silver grey with age. You may want to plant a witch hazel or two where you can enjoy the aroma in mid-winter. A good area would be along a pathway, on a patio, or entry garden leading to the front door. They can be planted with winterberry, hellebores (the Christmas rose) and ornamental grasses.  

Because this plant is known to grow in sparse woodlands and mountain clearings of Eastern Asia and North America make it ideal as a garden border as long as it is sheltered by hedges. It loves organic matter such as compost that is well rotted and leaf mold; all this mirrors the soils in the wild that make sure the roots of the plant have ample nutrients.

Witch hazel likes to have moist acidic soil but can also adapt to most soil conditions and also like full sun to partial shade. Witch hazel shrubs being basically care-free can grow into a pleasing form with little pruning, you just need to trim the dead wood out and/or remove the crossing stems. They need to be watered on a regular basis during the first year and during long periods of drought after that and they very seldom have problems with pests or diseases.

This winter flowering shrub can be in mixed border of shrubs and is a great plant for a well tended garden and a wild natural area. It also has value to wildlife by providing the birds, deer, and rabbits wonderful seed. Even though it has grown along side the deer it is not deer resistant, but the browsing of the deer does it no harm. Chicken wire will help protect very young witch hazel plants.

Some legends say the plant comes from ancient concoctions, and recipes of witches. It comes from the Old English word 'wyche' which means pliant or flexible because the twigs bend easy. The name hazel comes from the hazelnut shrub even though it is not related. Because of the flexibility of its twigs, witch hazel was used as divining rods to search for underground springs.