Description
Hamamelis virginiana (American Witch-Hazel) Seeds
Zone: 3 to 8.
Native to eastern North America.
The American or common witch hazel is deciduous shrub or small tree with dense, arching branches that is native to the woodlands, forest margins and stream banks in eastern North America. In autumn it has clusters of fragrant bright yellow flowers that persist until December providing winter interest. Fertilized flowers will form fruit that will develop the following growing season into green seed capsules that become woody with age and light brown. Each seed capsule contains one or two black seeds. In October the seed capsules split open, exploding and projecting the 1 to 2 black seeds for up to 10 yards. The leaves are oval to obovate, medium to dark green, 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 cm) long with dentate margins. Leaves turn yellow in autumn. Bark is smooth and grey to grey-brown.
The witch hazel is a good choice for an understory tree, in a woodland garden setting or shrub border. It does well in full sun or part shade in average, well-drained soils, although it prefers cool, moist acid soil.
Size: Height 15 to 20 ft; Width 15 to 20 ft.
Germination Instructions
Soak seeds for 24 hours and drain.
Stratification: Seed requires 120 days warm stratification followed by 90 days cold moist stratification at 3° C (37° F) to 5° C (41° F).
- Soak seeds in water for 24 hours.
- Place seeds in sandwich bag(s), with a bit of damp sand or vermiculite to keep moist.
- Keep at room temperature for about 120 days. Occasionally lightly spray water to keep seeds and sand moist.
- Place the bag(s) with seeds in refrigerator for about 90 days.
- After the required time take the seeds out of the refrigerator and sow the seeds in pots 1/4 inch deep and cover lightly. Water gently so as not to wash away the seeds. Keep soil moist but not wet. Seeds can take up to two years or more to germinate, so be patient and do not throw away any seed that hasn’t sprouted yet.
