Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Primavera’ (Witch Hazel)

Free-flowering, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Primavera’ (Witch Hazel) is an upright, deciduous shrub, becoming vase-shaped with age. Faintly scented, downward-facing, bright yellow flowers appear from mid to late winter. Each flower consists of 4 ribbon-like, curled and crimped, strap-shaped petals delicately tinted purple-red at their bases. Clustered along the leafless branches, the flowers unfurl their spidery petals on mild days. But on cold days, they curl up again and nearly close up to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. The rounded leaves emerge medium green with a light bronze flush, become sage-green, and turn yellow in fall.

• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prefers organically rich, moist, acidic soils. Best flowering in full sun. Consistent moisture is best.
• Mass in mixed shrub borders for dramatic winter blooms. Great flowering shrub for city gardens, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, banks and slopes, as a screen or hedge. Perfect as a specimen plant.
• Low maintenance. Keep an eye out for honey fungus, phytophthora root rot, coral spot, and powdery mildews.
• Promptly remove any suckers to prevent spread.
• No regular pruning is required. Simply remove any dead, damaged, or weak shoots. Prune in spring after flowering if you need to control shape and size.
• Propagate by layering in autumn, by grafting in late winter or early spring onto H. virginiana rootstocks, by budding in late summer, or by softwood cuttings in mid-spring in very free-draining compost with bottom heat and humid conditions.
• Hamamelis x intermedia is a hybrid of garden origin between Hamamelis japonica and Hamamelis mollis.