Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Hamamelis virginiana

American Witchhazel · American Witchhzel · Common Witchhazel

Family HamamelidaceaeGenus Hamamelis

A cluster of yellow flowers with long, narrow, twisted petals on a bare twig against a blue sky
FlowerAlex AbairCC BY 4.0
Hand-colored plate of a branch with toothed oval leaves, some turning bronze, spidery yellow flowers and dissected flower parts
IllustrationFranz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-PflanzenPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
15-30 ft4.6-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
15-20 ft4.6-6.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, Gold/Yellow, Red/Burgundy, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, WinterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasional FloodingExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 21, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 20, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    18 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 15 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

63% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150Public domain
Show the original text
Hamamelis (Hamamelidaceae). H. virginiana has a pattern of the seeds splitting during a cycle at 40 followed by a burst of germination in 14 d on shifting to 70. This pattern extends through many alternating cycles for both fresh and DS-seed. Fresh seed germ. 70-40(14%)-70(23%)-40-70(22%), 40(1%)-70(16%)-40(7%)- 70(15%)-40-70(16%), and 14% in April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ .70-40-70(37% in 0-8 w)-40-70(l 1 %) and 40-70(18%)-40-70(63%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on February 13, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 56 days.

37% germination in 0–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150Public domain
Show the original text
Hamamelis (Hamamelidaceae). H. virginiana has a pattern of the seeds splitting during a cycle at 40 followed by a burst of germination in 14 d on shifting to 70. This pattern extends through many alternating cycles for both fresh and DS-seed. Fresh seed germ. 70-40(14%)-70(23%)-40-70(22%), 40(1%)-70(16%)-40(7%)- 70(15%)-40-70(16%), and 14% in April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ .70-40-70(37% in 0-8 w)-40-70(l 1 %) and 40-70(18%)-40-70(63%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    14 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    22 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

23% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150Public domain
Show the original text
Hamamelis (Hamamelidaceae). H. virginiana has a pattern of the seeds splitting during a cycle at 40 followed by a burst of germination in 14 d on shifting to 70. This pattern extends through many alternating cycles for both fresh and DS-seed. Fresh seed germ. 70-40(14%)-70(23%)-40-70(22%), 40(1%)-70(16%)-40(7%)- 70(15%)-40-70(16%), and 14% in April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ .70-40-70(37% in 0-8 w)-40-70(l 1 %) and 40-70(18%)-40-70(63%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    15 germinated in this phase.

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    16 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

16% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150Public domain
Show the original text
Hamamelis (Hamamelidaceae). H. virginiana has a pattern of the seeds splitting during a cycle at 40 followed by a burst of germination in 14 d on shifting to 70. This pattern extends through many alternating cycles for both fresh and DS-seed. Fresh seed germ. 70-40(14%)-70(23%)-40-70(22%), 40(1%)-70(16%)-40(7%)- 70(15%)-40-70(16%), and 14% in April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ .70-40-70(37% in 0-8 w)-40-70(l 1 %) and 40-70(18%)-40-70(63%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in April.

No stated waiting before sowing.

14% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150Public domain
Show the original text
Hamamelis (Hamamelidaceae). H. virginiana has a pattern of the seeds splitting during a cycle at 40 followed by a burst of germination in 14 d on shifting to 70. This pattern extends through many alternating cycles for both fresh and DS-seed. Fresh seed germ. 70-40(14%)-70(23%)-40-70(22%), 40(1%)-70(16%)-40(7%)- 70(15%)-40-70(16%), and 14% in April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ .70-40-70(37% in 0-8 w)-40-70(l 1 %) and 40-70(18%)-40-70(63%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Hamamelis p. 150. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page