Hamamelis virginiana – Common Witchhazel

This small tree is very common in the forest understory but will grow denser and be more floriferous if given more sun – morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Look for witch-hazel flowers between Halloween and Thanksgiving. They start flowering as the foliage turns yellow – as the leaves fall the yellow, lightly fragrant flowers are revealed and remain for  a few weeks, defying the oncoming winter, and attracting the last of the season’s insects for pollination.