Pollinator plant

Chinese witch-hazel

Hamamelis mollis

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Common names

14 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese witch-hazel[1][2]
  • Chinese Witchhazel[3]
  • Witch Hazel[3]
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Chinese toverhazelaar
French
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vilín měkký[2]
Finnish
  • kiinantaikapähkinä[2]
German
  • Chinesische Zaubernuss[1][2]
Japanese
  • シナマンサク[2]
Russian
  • Гамамелис мягкий[2]
Slovak
  • hamamel mäkký[2]
Spanish
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Hamamelis mollis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Chinese witch-hazel — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Chinesische Zaubernuss — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Árbol de bruja — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Hamamélis de Chine — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
[2] Hamamelis mollis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Chinese witch-hazel — results[10].names[1]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Chinesische Zaubernuss — results[10].names[11]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Árbol de bruja — results[10].names[2]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Hamamélis de Chine — results[10].names[9]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • vilín měkký — results[10].names[3]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • シナマンサク — results[10].names[4]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • 金縷梅 — results[10].names[5]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • 金缕梅 — results[10].names[6]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Гамамелис мягкий — results[10].names[7]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • kiinantaikapähkinä — results[10].names[8]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
  • hamamel mäkký — results[10].names[10]; taxon id 410828; Hamamelis mollis.
[3] Hamamelis mollis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Chinese Witchhazel — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Hamamelis mollis.
  • Witch Hazel — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Hamamelis mollis.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Hamamelis mollis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Hamamelidaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
3.05–4.72 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
3.05–4.57 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect; Oval; Rounded; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Winter

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
S. China.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Chinese witch-hazel (Hamamelis mollis) is a shrub. It flowers from January to February.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Hamamelis mollis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 320261; ID 3JH4J; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 320261; ID 3JH4J; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Hamamelis mollis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Hamamelis mollis — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1404408; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1423658, 1423659

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.