Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Nature’s first aid kit always calls for Witch Hazel!

A native North American shrub, the tannin-rich Witch Hazel is loaded with uses. The flexible bark and roots are distilled for astringent and antiseptic properties known to help with all sorts of inflammation, and their flowers make great, aromatic landscaping. 

Witch Hazel’s late-fall blooms add a vibrant yellow pop to their muted winter backdrop and come equipped with a serious cold hardy tolerance. As their flowers bloom, you can find their fruit maturing simultaneously, which is where the plant’s name, Hamamelis  (meaning “together with fruit”) originates. Once established, Witch Hazel holds its own, being cold hardy, drought tolerant, and quite pest resistant. They make reliable shrubs to track down underground water sources in the wild and are sometimes referred to as “water-witches” because of such.