Plants of the Week: February 29

The Hamamelis collection is looking mighty spectacular. One of the first to bloom is Hamamelis mollis ‘Early Bright’. This selection is particularly near and dear to the Scott Arboretum. An earlier Garden Seeds blog post explains that “the introduction of this cultivar occurred in 1988, selected for its exceptional, early bloom time. ‘Early Bright’ was first noticed by Steve Wheaton, Swarthmore’s former Director of Grounds. Over several years, he observed that one specimen, growing among a group of other Chinese witch hazels, consistently bloomed two weeks earlier than all the rest. With the help of our Curator (then Plant Recorder), Andrew Bunting, ‘Early Bright’ was named and registered by the Scott Arboretum.” The espaliered ‘Early Bright’ located in the Fragrance Garden is in its full glory. Photo credit: J. Coceano

Hamamelis vernalis ‘Quasimodo’ is a new kid on the block. I was intrigued by both the cultivar name and the witch hazel’s compact growth. This natural dwarf selection sports compact twiggy growth to only about three feet tall and wide, with small, fragrant amber-orange flowers in mid-winter, typically early to mid-February. A specimen was added to the Arboretum’s collection in 2011, and can be seen in the Terry Shane Teaching Garden near the door to the Off Campus Study office. Photo credit: J. Coceano

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Strawberries and Cream’ is a floriferous bicolor witch hazel. Four ribbon-like, curled and crinkled yellow petals transition to a peachy-red toward the flower’s base. This cultivar is particularly floriferous and can reach heights of 9’ to 12’ making it a dramatic and welcome presence in the mid-winter garden. Photo credit: J. Coceano