Winterhazel – Corylopsis

Yesterday I went for a nice long walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park with a fellow gardener from The High Line. This is the time of year that I’m searching for hints of color heralding Spring. The winterhazel (Corylopsis) didn’t disappoint.

Winterhazel is one of the earliest shows of color, with yellow blooms on the otherwise bare shrubs. The blooms droop off the stem in a very graceful manner, which makes it a refreshing alternative to forsythia for early color.

There are about 30 different species of Winterhazel, all coming from Asia. I believe these photos are of Corylopsis spicata, which is native to Japan. They are related to Witchhazel, which is also in bloom now. The shrubs grow wider than tall and generally reach between 6-19′ in height.

Like Witchhazel, Winterhazel has a pleasant fragrance. I find that it is quite subtle, needing a slight breeze to bring it to my attention.