Description
Hamamelis virginiana is the fall-blooming variety of Witchhazel, a deciduous large shrub, with strong autumn and winter interest. The showy, streamer-looking flowers vary from bright yellow to hues of orange. Witchhazel leaves, twigs, and bark were used traditionally to treat cuts as well as skin conditions such as rashes and insect bites. Witchhazel is a species with high wildlife value, as it’s a food source for many species of moths and butterflies; birds such as wild turkeys eat the seeds. For a long time it was a mystery how witchhazel was pollinated, until naturalist Bernd Heinrich realized there’s a type of Owlet moth active on cold nights (similar to the one pictured above). These moths hide under the insulation of the leaf-litter during the day, then at night have the ability to raise their body temperature by as much as 50 degrees by shivering – allowing them to go find sources of nectar.
