Native to the montane forests of Assam, East Himalaya, Myanmar, and Tibet, this deciduous shrub or small tree is a member of the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, that also includes fothergill and loropetalum. It grows 10-15′ tall and has a dense canopy of oval, blue-green, finely toothed leaves that are up to 4′ long and have felted undersides. In early spring before the leaves appear, nodding, 1-2″ long racemes of very pale yellow, lemon scented, bell-shaped flowers appear. Each raceme has up to 30 flowers. Himalayan winter hazel is a good choice for mixed border as well as for use in woodland and fragrance gardens. The genus name, Corylopsis, is derived from the Greek words korylos which means hazel and opsis which means like or resemblance and refers to the fact that the leaves are similar to those of hazel plants. The specific epithet, himalayana, refers to the region where the plant is native.
Type: Flowering deciduous shrub or small tree
Outstanding Feature: Fragrant flowers
Form: Umbrella-shaped canopy
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom: Nodding racemes of very pale yellow, lemon scented, bell-shaped flowers in early spring
Size: 10-15′ h x 6-10′ W
Light: Dappled shade/bright shade
Soil: Average, consistently moist, well-drained, acidic
Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Softwood cuttings
Outstanding Selections: None available
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Karen Meyers