Plant name: Spike Winter Hazel
Botanical name:Corylopsis spicata
Virtues: Bright yellow, strongly fragrant flowers in late winter to early spring. A pleasant overall form.
Flowers: A bright clear yellow, held in drooping clusters. Very fragrant. Often the first flowers in the garden. They emerge before the leaves.
Foliage: Deep bluish green leaves. Young leaves are a deep purple. Fall color is pale yellow.
Habit: Bushy and upright, with branches that spread to give an appealing open form. Reaches 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
Season: Spring.
Origin: Japan.
Cultivation: Plant in full sun to part shade. Prefers light, fertile, well-drained soil with moderate moisture. Does not need pruning. USDA Zones 6–8.
Image credit: Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
