Witch-hazel is the native shrub/tree that refuses to follow the rules. When everything else in the yard has gone brown or dormant, witch-hazel bursts into bloom—either in late fall (Hamamelis virginiana) or the dead of winter (Hamamelis vernalis). Its spidery yellow or reddish flowers are a shock of life in cold months, while its leaves turn buttery gold or rusty orange in fall. Easygoing and long-lived, witch-hazels can grow into small trees (15–20′) and deserve a spot where you can admire them from a warm window.
