Virginia’s native witch hazel: First or last to flower?

VIRGINIA MCCOWN

Contributing Writer

There was a creaking sound in the house.

“Witch Hazel is coming to get you!” the sister warned. Fear and angst possessed the boy.

“So I was really crying when my parents came home. I really let the tears flow…” the boy recalled. Was his sister grounded for life for being so mean? No one really remembers, yet everyone knows there never really was a witch in our family called Hazel.

Witch Hazel is a shrub, a Virginia native species (Hamamelis virginiana) and nothing to fear. Early pioneers from Europe confused our native plant with European hazel, long considered to have divining powers. The plants’ rods were sometimes used to “dowse” or “witch” for water. Native Americans dried the leaves and bark to prepare a liniment for muscular aches and bruises. To this day, witch hazel is used as a mild astringent for purchase by itself or as an ingredient in many products.

Q. Where can I find it?

A. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) belongs to the Sweet Gum family of about two dozen genera and 100 species of trees and shrubs. Its golden fall foliage is easiest to identify in autumn here it’s found in the “understory” or woodlands of nearly every Virginia county. It grows in deep soil near streams at forest edges. A deciduous shrub, witch hazel’s dark green scalloped leaves emerge in spring. Yet before this, last year’s pods must pop open into spidery, yellow flowers on leafless branches. In Central Virginia, witch hazel’s autumn cycle concludes in mid-January. Hamamelis is from two Greek words meaning “fruit” and “together with.” The shrub produces this year’s flowers just as last year’s capsules or pods are ripening on the branches. It flowers and spreads seeds at the same time!

Q. Can I grow witch hazel using cuttings?

A. Yes. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for instructions.

Q. Can I grow witch hazel using seeds?

A. Yes, but you must replicate natural growing conditions or practice seed “scarification.” Again, the Cooperative Extension can give you instructions.

Q. Can I purchase witch hazel from nurseries?

A. Yes. Virginia nurseries sell native witch hazel. Take special care to purchase Hamamelis virginiana as that is a shrub native to Central Virginia. H. vernalis, is native to North America but not Central Virginia. H. mollis is Chinese witch hazel.

Q. Can I plant witch hazel in groupings?

A. Yes. Hedges of witch hazel can be used as a windbreak for wildlife. The shrub is also a good choice as an ornamental on smaller properties. Witch hazel does best in partial shade like many native plants. It tolerates a wide range of conditions. Soil should be moist, acidic and well drained. Witch hazel tolerates clay soil. Height can be expected to reach 15 feet to 20 feet.

Q. How does witch hazel work as a medicinal plant?

A. Witch hazel contains a chemical called tannin. When applied directly to the skin, witch hazel helps reduce swelling, repairs broken skin, and fights bacterial infection. Commercially it’s sold as a clear distilled liquid.

Threats to native witch hazel

Habitat destruction. Commercial and residential development, irresponsible farming practices as well as aggressive timber harvesting endanger all these habitats. The Virginia Native Plant Society (vnps.org) cautions home gardeners not to forage for fully developed wild witch hazel shrubs. The organization recommends only nursery grown plants be purchased.

Other than habitat threat, witch hazel has no serious pests. It tolerates being gnawed on by Japanese beetles, leaf gall aphids, and weevils. Powdery mildew is an occasional disease.

Basic recipe for a topical witch hazel solution:

Gather 1 tablespoon dried and crushed witch hazel twigs and leaves.

On a stove, in one cup of water, heat over low heat and cover. Do not boil. Cook for one half hour.

When finished, strain through cloth and allow to cool.

The solution will be brown in color and will not be clear like the familiar distilled witch hazel solution sold in stores. If the homemade solution is not used immediately, it should be refrigerated. Refrigerated, it should last for one week to 10 days. It is not recommended witch hazel be ingested or taken internally.

Virginia Mccown is a master gardener living in central Virginia along with about a half dozen creatures both great and small.