Hamamelis vernalis ( Vernal Witchazel, Ozark Witchhazel, Spring Blooming Witch Hazel )

Vernal witch-hazel blooms in late winter or early spring, before the leaves unfold with yellow and orange-red scented flowers that last three to four weeks. The young leaf is bronzy-red in hue and develops to a dark green tint. In the fall, it changes color from a rich buttery yellow to a golden yellow. The dried leaves can last far into the winter. In September or October, the fruit capsules develop and crack open, releasing black seeds that attract birds. The plants may establish colonies by sucking each other. For a naturalized landscape, this is an excellent specimen plant.

* Hamamelis vernalis is a species of Witch-hazel native to the Ozark Plateau in central North America , in Missouri , Oklahoma , and Arkansas. H. vernalis is valued in cultivation for its strongly scented flowers appearing in late winter, when little else is growing.