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Fragrant Winterhazel

Corylopsis glabrescens (kor-ill-OP-sis glab-RESS-senz)

Family: Hamamelidaceae Non-native Understory (15-40 ft)

Winter Hazel was first described by Adrien Rene Franchet and Paul Amedee Ludovic Savatier in 1878. This close relative of witch hazel has the same early flowering and yellow coloring of the flowers. Fragrant winter hazel is typically grown for its fragrant flowers that bloom early on bare branches. It tends to be a massive, multi-stemmed, flat-topped, wide-spreading shrub with a dense canopy. Be sure to provide plenty of space between plants, as this wide spreader needs room to grow. Plant in sun to light shade with moist, well-drained soil. It has a slow to moderate growth rate. This low maintenance shrub can be pruned immediately after flowering. Provide protection from strong winds and hot afternoon summer sun. Use in a cottage, shade or woodland garden as a hedge, in the border back or an understory shrub. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : No serious pest problems. The flowers are susceptible to late frost damage. More information on Corylopsis .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 61 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory (15-40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Corylopsis pauciflora
Fills a similar niche Corylopsis pauciflora Hydrangea quercifolia Prunus x subhirtella Snow Fountains® 'Snofozam'

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Multi-stemmed; Spreading; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Sinuate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The 2-4 in leaves are strongly veined. The dark green leaves are grayish on the underside. Its yellow-green to yellow fall color is attractive.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The fragrant, pale yellow flowers in April bloom on bare stems. The 1 to 3" racemes dangle from bare branches in early spring.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits are a rounded woody capsule, each containing 2 glossy seeds.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Brown; Red/Burgundy
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stems on this multi-stemmed shrub or small tree have a unique zigzag form.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan and Korea
Wildlife value
Attract birds, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and caterpillars.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Fragrance; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule

Uses (ethnobotany)

Landscape

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Shade Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Understory Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous #caterpillars #cascading #fragrant flowers #cascading flowers #multistemmed #slow growing #bird friendly #butterfly friendly #dense growth #frost tender #showy #showy flowers #fall color yellow #clay soils intolerant #fall interest #winter interest #shrub #year-round interest #wet soils intolerant #bell-shaped flowers
Problems & Resistance
Propagation
Seed; Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.