Not all varieties of witch hazel actually produce fruit. The ornamental plant commercially available as "late flowering witch hazel" is one of these non-fruiting plants. In contrast to Hamamelis virginiana, it does not flower in autumn but only in early spring.
Although they look similar, the fruits of the witch hazel are not related to the hazelnut
Can you eat the fruit of the witch hazel?
The fruits of the Virginian witch hazel are found on the bush at the same time as next year's flowers, a small phenomenon in the plant world. They are not poisonous, but the fruits are rarely used in the kitchen. They look a little like the hazelnut, but are not related to it. Despite everything, the fruit should be very tasty.
Hamamelis is very popular in homeopathy and is used in many ways, but only the Hamamelis virginiana variety, the Virginian witch hazel. Because of its anti-inflammatory, haemostatic and astringent effect, it is often used to heal wounds and treat various skin disorders. It is also said to help with hemorrhoids or neurodermatitis and even with diarrhea. In medicine, however, the leaves and bark are mainly used.
What do witch hazel fruits look like?
The relatively easy-care witch hazel forms woody capsule fruits, each of which contains only two seeds. Incidentally, despite the possible similarity, it is not botanically related to the hazelnut. When the seeds of the witch hazel are ripe, the capsules burst open and explosively throw the seeds up to ten meters away.
So if you want to collect and sow the seeds of your own plant, you should remove them before they are ripe. After that it will be difficult to find them again in the vastness of the garden.
Worth knowing about the fruit of the witch hazel:
- Fruit edible, probably very tasty
- not every variety of witch hazel produces fruit
- woody capsule fruit with 2 seeds each
- mature seeds are thrown up to 10 m away
tips
If you want to collect the seeds of your witch hazel for sowing, then do this just before the seeds ripen. Ripe seeds are thrown meters across the garden and are almost impossible to find again.