Veitch's Winter Hazel

Corylopsis veitchiana (kor-i-LOP-sis veet-chee-AY-na)

Family: Hamamelidaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

Veitch's winter hazel is a beautiful early-flowering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub in the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae). It is native to China's South-Central and Southeast regions and is typically found in mountainous terrain. This shrub has a rounded, bushy habit and grows up to 8 feet tall and equally as wide. Its flowers are slightly fragrant, small, buttery-yellow, bell-shaped, and arranged in weeping racemes. The foliage appears just after the flowers, initially reddish-purple and then bright green. The specific epithet, veitchiana , honors Sir Harry Veitch, an English horticulturist in the 19th century. This shrub prefers organically rich, acidic, moist, well-drained soil in partial shade. It does tolerate full sun but is intolerant of continually wet soils. It should be sited in a place protected from late spring frosts. Pruning should be done soon after flowering has stopped. Best propagated by seeds, softwood cuttings, or layering. Like other witch hazels, they bloom in the early spring on bare stems with showy, weeping, yellow flowers. Consider adding Veitch's winter hazel to your landscape as a border planting or in a cottage garden for an early spring show of flowers. use in a cottage or winter garden, as a specimen or in a border. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This shrub is usually free of insect and disease problems. Leaf scorch can occur from hot afternoon sun. More information on Corylopsis .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 66 attributes.