Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' (Witch Hazel)

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' is a hybrid between these two Asian species and has spectacular autumn colours followed by rich lemon yellow, sweetly scented, strap like flowers in late winter.  It was raised at the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts in 1963 and has established itself as one of the finest of all winter flowering plants.

Witch hazels derive their common name from water divining.  In Europe hazel twigs were traditionally used for this craft, but in the absence of any hazel plants in America, the European settlers used twigs from what we now know as Hamamelis virginiana which has a similar branch habit to our native hazels.  These became known as “Twitch Hazels”, hence the derivation of the modern common name.

Hamamelis are easy to cultivate once established but are intolerant of waterlogged sites.  They demand good drainage and, ideally, some degree of moisture in hot summers.  The best way of achieving this is with the addition of copious quantities of humus when planting and subsequent mulching.  Today there are probably over 150 cultivars of witch hazel available and Hamamelis x  intermedia 'Arnold Promise' remains one of the best!