| Corylopsis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Corylopsis spicata in flower | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Hamamelidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Hamameloideae |
| Tribe: | Corylopsideae Harms |
| Genus: | Corylopsis Siebold &Zucc. |
Corylopsis is agenus of nearly 30species ofshrubs in the witch hazelfamily,Hamamelidaceae,native to eastern Asia with the majority of species endemic to China but with some also in Japan, Korea, and the Himalayas. This genus is also known from the extinct speciesCorylopsis reedae described fromEocene leaf fossils found in Washington State, USA.
They grow to 2–6 m (6 ft 7 in – 19 ft 8 in) tall, often with a crown wider than the shrub's height. Theleaves are ovate with an acute apex and a serrated margin, 4–20 cm (2–8 in) long and 3–15 cm (1.2–5.9 in) broad. Theflowers are produced in late winter in pendulousracemes 3–9 cm (1.2–3.5 in) long with 5-30 flowers; each flower has five pale yellow petals, 4–9 mm long. Thefruit is a drycapsule 10–12 mm long, containing two glossy blackseeds.
They are often grown in gardens for their very early, yellow flowers. They do have weak branches though, which are often damaged by heavysnow loads.Corylopsis prefers to grow in semi-shade or shade, protected from strong winds. It grows best on humus-rich soils. The sweetly scented flowering branches keep well in a vase.Corylopsis also makes good bonsai plants, especiallyC. pauciflora.
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