• Photo of Corylopsis sinensis (Corylopsis sinensiss)

Plant Profile: Corylopsis sinensis

Taxonomy: Corylopsis sinensis

Names

Chinese Witch Hazel, Fragrant Winter Hazel, Willmott Winter Hazel

  • Photo of Corylopsis sinensis (Corylopsis sinensiss)

Phonetic Spelling:kor-i-LOP-sis sih-NEN-sis

Genus:Corylopsis

Species:sinensis

Family:Hamamelidaceae

Chinese Witch Hazel, originating from western China, is a rounded shrub that typically grows to a height of 10 to 15 feet and has an upright, spreading form. Its yellow flowers, which are mildly fragrant, bloom in drooping clusters from late winter to early spring.

This plant thrives in acidic, well-drained soils and prefers full sun to partial shade. It is adaptable to various soil types, provided they offer good drainage. With its reddish stems and early blossoms, this shrub adds visual interest to the winter landscape.

Corylopsis sinensis Feature Summary

Corylopsis sinensis Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#deciduous
#vigorous
#full sun tolerant
#fragrant flowers
#shrub
#yellow flowers
#winter interest
#upright form
#well-drained soil
#red stems
#hairy leaves
#spring interest
#acidic soil tolerant
#early spring flowers
#partial shade tolerant
#late winter flowers
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Corylopsis sinensis Feature Summary

Flowers
Hanging clusters of yellow flowers with orange anthers appear in early spring. The racemes are up to 2 inches long.
Gold/Yellow
1-3 inches
Leaves
4-inch long oval leaves are dark green with hairs on the undersides. Fall color is usually an unexceptional yellow.
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
3-6 inches
3-6 inches
Stem
Reddish-brown stems
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Winter Garden
Border
Hedge
Accent
Flowering Tree
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Coastal

Corylopsis sinensis Attributes

Corylopsis sinensis: Country Or Region Of Origin

China

Corylopsis sinensis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Corylopsis sinensis: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Corylopsis sinensis Flowers

Corylopsis sinensis: Flower Description

Hanging clusters of yellow flowers with orange anthers appear in early spring. The racemes are up to 2 inches long.

Corylopsis sinensis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Corylopsis sinensis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Corylopsis sinensis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Corylopsis sinensis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Corylopsis sinensis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Corylopsis sinensis Leaves

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Description

4-inch long oval leaves are dark green with hairs on the undersides. Fall color is usually an unexceptional yellow.

Corylopsis sinensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Corylopsis sinensis: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Insignificant

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Corylopsis sinensis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Corylopsis sinensis: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Corylopsis sinensis Stem

Corylopsis sinensis: Stem Description

Reddish-brown stems

Corylopsis sinensis: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Red/Burgundy

Corylopsis sinensis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Corylopsis sinensis Whole Plant Traits

Corylopsis sinensis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Corylopsis sinensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Corylopsis sinensis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Corylopsis sinensis: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Corylopsis sinensis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Corylopsis sinensis Cultural Conditions

Corylopsis sinensis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Corylopsis sinensis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Corylopsis sinensis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Corylopsis sinensis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Corylopsis sinensis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Corylopsis sinensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Corylopsis sinensis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Corylopsis sinensis Landscape

Corylopsis sinensis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Corylopsis sinensis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Corylopsis sinensis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland