Winter hazel

Winter hazel: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad, open shrub of 1.5–3 m with thin, somewhat spreading branches.

Leaf

Alternate, 4–10 cm, oval with a heart-shaped base, with teeth ending in a bristle and parallel, impressed veins; underside blue-green.

Bark

Thin, zigzagging, brown twigs.

Flower

Hanging clusters (2–5 cm) of pale yellow, bell-shaped, softly scented flowers, in March–April before the leaves.

Fruit

Small woody capsules, as in witch hazel.

Difference from hazel

Hazel has long, hanging catkins and bears hazelnuts.

Difference from witch hazel

Witch hazel has ribbon-like, crinkled petals and flowers in winter.

Difference from forsythia

Forsythia has bright yellow bells along the twigs and opposite leaves.

Flowering: March–April · Pruning: April–May

Identify by feature: Heart-shaped leaves · Yellow flowers in spring · Hanging flower clusters

Looks like it, but isn’t

• Hazel Corylus avellana: long, hanging catkins and hazelnuts. Difference from hazel
• Witch hazel Hamamelis: ribbon-like, crinkled petals, already in winter. Difference from witch hazel
• Forsythia Forsythia: bright yellow bells along the twigs and opposite leaves. Difference from forsythia

Why grow it?

• Delicate, fragrant, pale yellow flower clusters in March–April.
• Early flowers for bees and bumblebees.
• A graceful, open shape that needs almost no pruning.
• A spring-flowering shrub for partial shade, alongside rhododendrons and ferns.

Winter hazel: where does it grow best?

• Partial shade, for instance at the edge of trees; in full sun the leaves can scorch in dry weather.
• Humus-rich, acid to neutral soil that does not dry out; on chalky soil the leaves turn yellow.
• A sheltered spot, out of the morning sun: late frost can damage the flowers.
• Allow 2 m width; lovely with rhododendrons, in a woodland border or in front of a dark hedge.

Light

Partial shade

Legal basis

Acid soil

Moisture

Normal

Size

2 m tall, 2 m wide

Hardiness

Throughout Belgium, no protection needed

Goes well with

• Rhododendron: Likes the same acid, humus-rich soil and partial shade, and flowers afterwards.
• Japanese pieris: White or pink flower clusters in March–April, on the same acid soil.
• Witch hazel: A relative that flowers in winter: together, flowers from January to April.
• Lesser periwinkle: Small blue flowers at its foot, as ground cover in partial shade.

Good and bad companions

Goes well with

• Suits the woodland edge or the light shade of: english oak, sessile oak, pin oak, turkey oak
• Like acid soil, just like this plant: heather, rhododendron, japanese skimmia, raspberry, highbush blueberry, witch hazel, broom, gorse

Winter hazel: when and how to plant it?

1. Plant in spring or autumn, root-balled or from a pot.
2. Mix leaf mould, compost or peat-free ericaceous compost into the planting soil.
3. Plant at the same depth as in the pot and firm the soil.
4. Water generously and cover the soil with a layer of leaves or wood chips.

Care

Watering

Water in dry spells, ideally with rainwater.

Feeding

A layer of compost or leaf mould every spring; no lime.

Mulch

A layer of leaves or wood chips keeps the soil cool, moist and acid.

Shape

Let it grow freely: its graceful, open shape is its charm.

Tip: For a small garden, Corylopsis pauciflora is ideal: it stays around 1.5 m. ‘Pauciflora’ means ‘few-flowered’, and indeed each cluster carries only two or three flowers, which together still form a yellow veil.

Winter hazel: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April–May.

When: After flowering (April–May).

How:

• Little needed: only remove dead or awkward branches, to keep its graceful shape.
• If an old shrub becomes too dense, cut one or two of the oldest branches off at the base after flowering.

Caution: Late frost can damage the flowers: plant it out of the morning sun.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Layering

In spring, bend a low branch to the ground, cover it with soil and sever it after a year.

Softwood cuttings

In June, take soft cuttings and root them under plastic; they do not always take.

Winter hazel: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy throughout Belgium: no protection needed.

• Hardy; only the flowers are sensitive to late frost.
• Plant it out of the morning sun, in a sheltered spot: frozen flowers then thaw slowly and more often stay intact.

Diseases and pests

• Frosted flowers: Brown flowers after a frosty night in March. Plant it in a sheltered spot, out of the morning sun.
• Yellow leaves: Chlorosis on chalky soil. Add leaf mould and rainwater, or choose a spot with more acid soil.
• Scorched leaves: Brown leaf edges in full sun or in dry weather. Water it and give it a spot in partial shade.

Through the year

• March: Flowering begins: pale yellow, fragrant clusters.
• April: Flowering ends; then prune, if needed.
• May: Last pruning; add compost or leaf mould.
• June: Take softwood cuttings.
• August: Water in dry spells.
• October: Planting.
• November: Leave fallen leaves around the base as mulch.

What can you use it for?

Garden and landscape

Graceful, fragrant spring-flowering shrub for partial shade and acid to neutral soil, for example with rhododendrons.

For wildlife

Early flowers for bees and bumblebees.

Did you know?

• Corylopsis means ‘resembling Corylus’, the hazel; yet it is related to witch hazel.
• If you cut a few branches with plump buds in February, they will open indoors in a vase.