February 9, 2012
Witch Hazel, Hamamelis vernalis
The flowers of this species of Witch Hazel are a true harbinger of spring, appearing in spite of snow or freezing temperatures. This plant is a native of the south. There is a New England native Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, that blooms very late in the fall, after it and other deciduous woody plants have lost their leaves.