Side by side
Forsythia or winter hazel? How to tell them apart
Forsythia · Corylopsis
How to tell them apart – forsythia: bright yellow bells along the twigs and opposite leaves; winter hazel: shrub with hazel-like leaves that bears hanging clusters of pale yellow, fragrant bells on bare twigs in March–April.
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How do you recognise them?
- Forsythia
- Shrub that turns completely yellow in March with bell-shaped flowers, before the leaves appear.
- Compared with winter hazel: bright yellow bells along the twigs and opposite leaves.
- Winter hazel
- Shrub with hazel-like leaves that bears hanging clusters of pale yellow, fragrant bells on bare twigs in March–April.
| Forsythia | Winter hazel | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, lance-shaped, 5–10 cm, toothed; sometimes trifoliate. | Alternate, 4–10 cm, oval with a heart-shaped base, with teeth ending in a bristle and parallel, impressed veins; underside blue-green. |
| Flowering | Bright yellow, bell-shaped flowers along the bare branches, March–April (March–April). | Hanging clusters (2–5 cm) of pale yellow, bell-shaped, softly scented flowers, in March–April before the leaves (March–April). |
| Fruit | Small capsules (rarely). | Small woody capsules, as in witch hazel. |
| Bark | Yellowish-brown with lenticels; twigs hollow or chambered. | Thin, zigzagging, brown twigs. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 2–3 m | Shrub, 1.5–3 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal | Partial shade, acid soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Little | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | April–May | April–May |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Choose what suits your soil, your light and the space you have: see the growing conditions in the table.
Read on
- Plant profile: Forsythia
- Plant profile: Winter hazel
- Forsythia: when and how to prune
- Winter hazel: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
- Forsythia or cornelian cherry
- Forsythia or Japanese kerria
- Forsythia or winter jasmine
- Hazel or winter hazel
- Winter hazel or witch hazel
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.