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Tag: hammamelis x intermedia arnolds promise

  • Winter to Spring: Arnold’s Promise Blooms Brightly

    Winter to Spring: Arnold’s Promise Blooms Brightly

    After weeks of below-freezing temperatures, my backyard is lit up like Christmas, seemingly out of nowhere.

    Why? My Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’) is blooming.

    Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel Habit (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’)

    We’ve had a brutal winter: several weeks below freezing, high winds, and an ice storm.

    Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel pulls me out of the winter doldrums yearly.

    I took the pictures below on March 18, 2025, in USDA Hardiness Zone 6. My Snow Crocus are just coming into bloom, and the Daffodils are a week or two away from bloom.

    You have to see the Witch Hazel flowers up close to appreciate them.

    Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel Flowers Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel Habit (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’)

    Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel blooms at a time when few other plants are in bloom.

    Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel Flowers Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel Flowers Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel Habit (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’)

    Other plants that bloom in late winter include Snowdrops, Snow Crocus and Lenten Rose.

    Furthermore, Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel is an understory tree. It prefers to grow in partial shade. The tree will tolerate drought once established.

    Also, Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel grows as a single-stem tree or multi-stemmed shrub, reaching about 25 feet.

    Because it is such a unique tree, Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel often sells out early in the season.

    In conclusion, if you like the look of Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel, I suggest you get to the garden center early.

  • Spring Flowers for Early Bloom in the Landscape

    Spring Flowers for Early Bloom in the Landscape

    We all want to see color after a long dreary winter. However, what can we plant to get spring flowers sooner?

    Yesterday, I looked out the kitchen window and the Arnold Promise Witch Hazel was on fire. It’s mid-march and I’ve already got a flowering tree in full bloom.

    Arnold Promise Witch Hazel full bloom mid march 1920 x 1080

    Arnold Promise Witch Hazel doesn’t have the showiest flowers but it does one thing very well. It is in full bloom when nothing else is, except for perhaps Crocus and Lenten Rose.

    I enjoy the pre-spring flowers or Arnold Promise Witch Hazel. How could you not?

    Arnold Promise Witch Hazel Flower 1920 x 1080

    My nature-planted crocus are in full bloom. Crocus and Arnold Promise Witch Hazel are in the same time frame for succession of bloom. I’m in awe of Crocus every time I see them. The flowers may be covered by six inches of snow tomorrow.

    Crocus on March day 1920 x 1080

    The daffodils won’t be in bloom for another couple of weeks, give or take. I need to remove some of the shredded leaves I put on the plants last fall.

    Daffodils emerging in landscape 1920 x 1080

    I have poppies emerging or simply growing. I don’t think poppies die back in the winter. They simply turn a little brown but maintain their vigor in the center of the foliage.

    Poppy emerging in landscape 1920 x 1080

    As dainty as poppy flowers appear they’re tough-as-nails plant that thrives in hot and dry locations. The photo below was taken in May or June.

    Papaver orientale - Oriental Poppy

    My tulips are just beginning to emerge.

    tulips emerging in landscape warmer 1920 x 1080

    Here we are two days later and the temperature is in the low 30s F with two to five inches of heavy, wet snow forecast for today. Have I mentioned what a wonderful addition to the garden Arnold Promise Witch Hazel is?

    Arnold Promise Witch Hazel in snow 1920 x 1080
  • Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel – Harbinger of Spring

    Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel – Harbinger of Spring

    It’s late-February and my Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’) has been in bloom for two weeks.

    Here’s the view from the kitchen on a dreary, rainy, day. There could be six inches of snow on the ground and the tree would be in bloom.

    Arnold Promise Witch Hazel Distance

    Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel Blooms as early as mid-February here in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a.

    The flowers are not overpowering but do survive when temperatures can get down to the single digits. Hence, they beat out anything else around.

    Arnold Promise Witch Hazel Bloom

    If you don’t have an Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel I recommend planting one next year.

    Below is a video I filmed years ago about early flowering shrubs. I start the video standing in front of the same witch hazel.