American Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is in the witch-hazel family family (Hamamelidaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,268 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Nationally it blooms mainly from October to November, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph American Witch-Hazel: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Witch-Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana, known as common or American witch-hazel, is a species of witch-hazel native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, and south to central Florida to eastern Texas.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Witch-Hazel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 426 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Virginia | 380 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Pennsylvania | 307 | October | Oct–Nov |
| New York | 281 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Vermont | 249 | October | Oct–Oct |
| North Carolina | 198 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Maine | 125 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Michigan | 117 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Connecticut | 114 | October | Oct–Nov |
| New Hampshire | 110 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Maryland | 105 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Georgia | 85 | November | Oct–Dec |
| Ohio | 81 | October | Oct–Nov |
| New Jersey | 72 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Mississippi | 64 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Arkansas | 63 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Wisconsin | 59 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Indiana | 56 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Alabama | 48 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Texas | 48 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Tennessee | 47 | October | Oct–Nov |
| West Virginia | 45 | October | Oct–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 39 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Kentucky | 36 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Illinois | 29 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Minnesota | 19 | October | Sep–Dec |
| Rhode Island | 19 | October | Oct–Nov |
| South Carolina | 12 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Louisiana | 11 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Missouri | 10 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Delaware | 6 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Florida | 5 | December | Dec–Dec |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Witch-Hazel?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from October to November.
Where is American Witch-Hazel most often seen?
The most observations come from Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania.