Culture
Best grown in acidic, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates average garden soils, but not unamended heavy clays. Flower buds are susceptible to damage from early spring frosts. Appreciates a sheltered location in the northern part of its growing range including the St. Louis area.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Corylopsis glabrescens, commonly called fragrant winter hazel, is a spreading, multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows 8-15' tall and features drooping clusters (racemes) of fragrant pale yellow flowers in late winter to early spring before the foliage emerges. Ovate toothed dark green leaves (to 4" long) turn variable but usually unexceptional shades of yellow in fall. Closely related to and in the same family as witch hazel.
Genus name comes from the Greek words korylos meaning hazel and opsis meaning like for leaf resemblance to Corylus.
Specific epithet means somewhat glabrous (without hairs).
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
As is the case with forsythia and witch hazel, winter hazel provides late winter to early spring bloom in the landscape. Shrub borders or woodland gardens.