Hamamelis x intermedia 'ARNOLD PROMISE'

It is really funny to see that a plant, for an unknown reason, is suddenly labeled as POP plant, meaning currently IN FASHION (and what if no longer IN?? dig it out and call for Garden Vogue help to replace it with a new POP star?). Anyway, must say, there is something, and in fact quite a lot, about this witch hazel. Its main features are flowers that appear in mid to late winter and vivid colours of autumn foliage.

Arnold Promise is considered the heaviest bloomer among the yellow-flowering varieties of witch hazel. It has profusion of bright yellow, fringe-like flowers on bare wood. They come out on the cold days of end January and keep blooming for 6 to sometimes 8 weeks! Leaves are similar to hazel, but larger and turn golden yellow and orange in autumn. Witch hazel is a beautiful shrub or a small tree of an open vase shape, growing to some 3-4m which is ideal for even a small garden. It is a garden-origin cross between Asian species h.japonica and h.mollis.

Soil has to be acidic to neutral, moist but well drained. With hazels will not tolerate lime. Do not prune older plants. Sunny location or light semi-shade is best. Fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5) but exposed sites are not recommended.

Last update 22-12-2008; 14-02-2011