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. Grows in Sun/Shade:
Shade Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 168 Trees in Canada: 272 Shrubs of Ontario: 151 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Common.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: virginiana: of Virginia, Virginian For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs Photographs:
209 photographs available, of which 9 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
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.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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