Late Bloomer

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms in October and November, providing nectar for Owlet Moths.

Unique flowers that make me think of yellow straps of shredded coconut. The blooms closely spaced make it difficult to tell but each flower has four petals that curl up on cold days and unfurl on warmer days.

Blooming after their leaves have fallen to the ground the little trees or shrubs grow to 20 or 30 feet tall with a multi-stemmed clump of 15 to 20 feet wide.

With its leaves gone, the flowers join in the autumnal revelry!

Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

4 thoughts on “Late Bloomer”

  1. Hi Brenda:
    Not sure if there are different varieties of witch hazel, but my large shrub blooms in February with orange-y blooms. It has the most wonderful scent on the air. One of my favorites. Perhaps the soil makes a difference?

  2. I’ve never noticed these plants. I’ll keep a lookout for them when I’m out walking. Thanks for sharing!

Comments are closed.