In The Garden Now…..Spike Winter Hazel

Winter Hazel

Text and photos 

by Victoria Gilleland

Spike Winter Hazel is a member of the witch hazel family and is native to Japan and China.

It produces bright clear yellow fragrant flowers in later winter or early spring around the time many popular witch hazel varieties have just finished blooming. 

Flowers are born in pendant clusters before bluish green pleated leaves appear. 

Leaves turn bright yellow in fall.

This shrub can be grown in full to part sun. In full sun it will stay more compact. 

My Spike Winter Hazel is growing in part sun and reaches 8’ x 8’ regularly. 

Right after bloom I “Renewal Prune” my plant by chopping it to the ground when it overreaches the space I’ve allotted it in the garden. It quickly grows back in an open vase shaped form and blooms the next year. 

Neighboring Spike Hazel

Our neighbor has a very old Spike Winter Hazel shrub that has not been pruned in many years.

This one reaches over our fence and into our garden. We’re okay with that since we get to enjoy those fragrant yellow flowers. 

That shrub is like a small tree and must be at least 14 feet tall and 16 feet wide. 

Like most shrubs and trees they’ll grow bigger and bigger given opportunity and the time.

For some early spring color and a bit of fragrance think about adding a Spike Winter Hazel to your garden.

Botanical Name: Corylopsis spicata

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 25 years. (vjgilleland@yahoo.com )