North America, from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine and Quebec, west to Ontario, Michigan and Minnesota, south to Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and east to Florida. It has a thin, scaly, light-brown bark and small branches that grow in a zigzag manner. The flowers are bisexual with prominent, yellow, ribbon-like petals. The fruits are small, paired and horned.
Witch hazel grows at forest edges and along streams as an understory species.
It grows best in deep, rich soils. The sapwood of witch hazel is light brown, with a pinkish hue, while the heartwood is dark brown. The wood has medium luster and no odor or taste. It has medium density, fine texture, and straight grain. No information available at this time.