Corylopsis veitchiana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Corylopsis sinensis f. veitchiana
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-i-LOP-sis veet-chee-AY-na
- Description
-
Veitch's winter hazel is a beautiful early-flowering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub in the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae). It is native to China's South-Central and Southeast regions and is typically found in mountainous terrain. This shrub has a rounded, bushy habit and grows up to 8 feet tall and equally as wide. Its flowers are slightly fragrant, small, buttery-yellow, bell-shaped, and arranged in weeping racemes. The foliage appears just after the flowers, initially reddish-purple and then bright green. The specific epithet, veitchiana, honors Sir Harry Veitch, an English horticulturist in the 19th century.
This shrub prefers organically rich, acidic, moist, well-drained soil in partial shade. It does tolerate full sun but is intolerant of continually wet soils. It should be sited in a place protected from late spring frosts. Pruning should be done soon after flowering has stopped. Best propagated by seeds, softwood cuttings, or layering.
Like other witch hazels, they bloom in the early spring on bare stems with showy, weeping, yellow flowers. Consider adding Veitch's winter hazel to your landscape as a border planting or in a cottage garden for an early spring show of flowers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This shrub is usually free of insect and disease problems. Leaf scorch can occur from hot afternoon sun.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
Download Image
Download Image
Download Image
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Corylopsis
- Species:
- veitchiana
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Distribution:
- Native: China South-Central, China Southeast
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds.
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a two-valve, dehiscent capsule with black seeds. Each capsule measures 7-8 mm and has stellate hairs. The seeds are 4-5 mm in size. Fruits occur from June to August.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are arranged in 3-inch-long weeping racemes of butter-yellow flowers and have a delicate scent. Each raceme consists of about 15 small flowers. The flowers form a bell shape and are 5-petaled with conspicuous reddish anthers. They appear on bare stems in early March to April.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2.5 inches wide, and obovate to elliptic. They appear reddish-purple initially, then change to bright green as they mature. The margins are serrate. The base of the leaf is asymmetrical and cordate, and the apex is acute. The upper surface is glossy and smooth, and the undersides are grayish and may be smooth or pubescent along the veins. There are 6 to 8 lateral veins on each side of the leaf.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- The bark is cinnamon in color with occasional mottling.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The young stems are smooth. The older stems appear dark brown with lenticels. The buds are ellipsoid and pubescent.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
