Winter Hazel

One of my favorite late winter blooming shrubs is Winter Hazel (Corylopsis spicata). It is a deciduous shrub that flowers in my Upstate garden in late February to early March.

The fragrant flowers bloom in late winter before the new foliage emerges. The flowers first emerge as chartreuse and mature to a soft yellow. The 2-inch flower clusters or racemes dangle from the branches. The flowers stand out against a backdrop of evergreen shrubs such as Camellia sasanqua. In addition to the flowers, winter hazel has attractive bluish-green leaves that turn yellow in the fall.

Native to Japan, winter hazel is in the Hamamelidaceae family, which also includes witch hazels. It is cold hardy in USDA planting zones 5 to 8.

Winter hazel grows in an upright “V” shape. It is multi-stemmed and spreads slowly over time. Lower limbs can be pruned to create a small tree. Prune winter hazel soon after it flowers. It reaches a height of 8 to 10 feet and a width of 6 to 10 feet wide.

Plant winter hazel in a location that gets afternoon shade. It grows well along the edge of a woodland or under high shade. It prefers acidic soil that is well-drained and enriched with organic matter. Winter hazel can be planted with azaleas, camellias, and other plants that prefer a shady site with acidic soils.