Plant of the Month April 2019

Corylopsis spicata (Winter hazel)

Family:  Hamamelidaceae
Origin: Japan
Location: Asian Plants
Accession: 1975

Corylopsis spicata is in the Witch Hazel family, a deciduous shrub up to 2m in height and 3m wide, native to Japan. The racemes of bell-shaped scented pale yellow flowers with red anthers are borne on bare stems in late winter and early spring. The alternate, broadly ovate, leaves are bristled with toothed edges, blue-green underneath and bright-green above. Leaf buds change from dark-red to dark green as the leaves emerge. It prefers moist, well-drained, acid soil and a sheltered site with partial shade.