Specimen record
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Description
Remarkable for flowering in late October and November when most other plants have finished for the season, witch hazel produces clusters of spidery, fragrant, yellow flowers with ribbon-like petals. It often blooms as its leaves are falling, and flowers may persist on bare branches into December. The previous year's seed capsules mature simultaneously, ejecting two small black seeds explosively up to 10 meters away.
Identification tips
- 1Spidery yellow flowers with 4 narrow, ribbon-like, crinkled petals, blooming October–November
- 2Flowers appear as leaves are falling or on bare branches
- 3Alternate, broadly oval leaves with wavy-toothed margins and asymmetric base
- 4Woody seed capsules that split open explosively, ejecting seeds with an audible pop
- 5Understory shrub or small tree 3–5 m tall with spreading, zigzag branches
Specimen & preservation notes
Collect flowering branches showing both flowers and any remaining autumn leaves. Press the ribbon-like petals carefully — they curl easily. Include a mature seed capsule showing the open valves. This is one of very few specimens collectible in November.
Habitats
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||
| 4 |
Collection notes
Season check
Guide window matches observed bloom.
Flowering records: 427 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 823 observations within 25 km