Corylopsis

? Winter-hazel
Corylopsis spicata in flower
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Saxifragales Family: Hamamelidaceae Genus: Corylopsis Siebold & Zucc.
Species

Corylopsis is a genus of nearly 30 species of shrubs in the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, native to eastern Asia with the majority of species endemic in China but with some also in Japan, Korea, and the Himalaya.

They grow to 2-6 m tall, and often with a crown wider than tall. The leaves are ovate with an acute apex and a serrated margin, 4-20 cm long and 3-15 cm broad. The flowers are produced in late winter in pendulous racemes 3-9 cm long with 5-30 flowers; each flower has five pale yellow petals, 4-9 mm long. The fruit is a dry capsule 10-12 mm long, containing two glossy black seeds.

Selected species

Native to China unless otherwise indicated

Corylopsis alnifolia Corylopsis brevistyla Corylopsis glabrescens (Japan, Korea) Corylopsis glandulifera Corylopsis glaucescens Corylopsis griffithii (Himalaya) Corylopsis henryi Corylopsis himalayana (Himalaya) Corylopsis microcarpa Corylopsis multiflora Corylopsis obovata Corylopsis omeiensis

Corylopsis pauciflora (Japan, Taiwan) Corylopsis platypetala Corylopsis rotundifolia Corylopsis sinensis Corylopsis spicata (Japan) Corylopsis stelligera Corylopsis trabeculosa Corylopsis veitchiana Corylopsis velutina Corylopsis willmottiae Corylopsis yui Corylopsis yunnanensis

Cultivation and uses

Corylopsis Pauciflora

They are often grown in gardens for their very early, yellow flowers. They do have weak branches though, which are often damaged by heavy snow loads. Corylopsis prefers to grow in semi-shade or shade, protected from strong winds. It grows best on humus-rich soils. The sweetly scented flowering branches keep well in a vase. Corylopsis also makes good bonsai plants, especially C. pauciflora.

References

• Flora of China: Corylopsis

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