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Hamamelidaceae
Spike Winter Hazel
Corylopsis spicata
First light of spring and gentle welcome.
- Family
- Hamamelidaceae
- Genus
- Corylopsis
- Native to
- Japan
- Bloom season
- Early Spring
- Type
- deciduous shrub
- Height
- 1.5–2.5 m
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- moist, acidic, humus-rich
- Water
- medium
- Hardiness
- 5–8
- Lifespan
- long-lived shrub
Did you know
- It blooms before the leaves emerge, dangling soft yellow chains from bare branches in earliest spring.
- Despite the name, it is unrelated to true hazel — it is a witch hazel relative.
- The flower racemes have a sweet primrose fragrance noticeable on warm spring days.
- It was introduced to Western gardens by E.H. Wilson, the great plant explorer of the early 20th century.
- Pruning is rarely needed — its naturally graceful, layered branches form their own architecture.
Color meanings
Yellow
early hope after winter