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Shrubs

Hamamelis mollis 'Early Bright'

witch hazel 'Early Bright'

A medium to large, upright deciduous, often vase-shaped, shrub to a height of around 3 to 4.5m, with oval green leaves that turn an attractive shade of golden yellow in autumn. Slightly fragranced golden-yellow flowers with narrow crimped petals are borne on the bare branches early to mid-winter, earlier than other cultivars

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Hamamelidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Hamamelis are deciduous shrubs with broadly ovate or rounded leaves, sometimes colouring well in autumn, and fragrant yellow to red flowers with 4 narrow petals, borne on the leafless branches in late winter and early spring, or in autumn
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Best in an open, sunny spot, avoiding exposed or windy positions, with well-drained, humus-rich, acid or neutral soil. See hamamelis cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by simple layering of suitable shoots in spring, by grafting in late winter or by chip budding in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, honey fungus, phytophthora root rot and powdery mildews

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