Corylopsis spicata – Spike WinterHazel

Corylopsis spicataThis time of year, things can still seem a little bare in the landscape. Especially glancing at the garden from indoors. On warm days, it’s very rewarding to take a walk outside and look closely at the plants, as they break dormancy. Working around the Nursery last week I couldn’t help but be drawn to the Corylopsis.

Reaching 4-6′ tall and wide, Spike Winterhazel forms a tangled mass of crooked branches. Pendulous yellow flowers form on bare stems in April. As the flowers fade, leaves begin to appear in a shade of purple, maturing to blueish-green.

Think of Winterhazel as a cool alternative to ‘Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick’. Plant it as a focal point in your shady garden, or as a mass at the edge of a moist wooded area.