Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’

‘Jelena’ is among the most impressive of the witchhazels we grow here at the Scott Arboretum.  She’s a hybrid cultivar of the Chinese witchhazel (Hamamelis mollis) and the Japanese witchhazel (Hamamelis japonica), and like both of her parents, she flowers in the dead of winter when we’re desperate for a bit of garden interest.  She is striking when in bloom —curled, strappy petals emerge from a burgundy calyx cup and are red at the base, orange in the middle, and yellowish at the very tip, giving the flowers the appearance of dancing flames.  Incredibly, these blossoms remain effective for a month or even more!  What’s more, ‘Jelena’ drops her spent leaves prior to blooming, unlike many other witchhazels whose ragged foliage obscures their floral display. ‘Jelena’ has a beautiful growth habit that further magnifies her garden-worthiness. It is an elegantly broad-spreading shrub with graceful branches that grows slowly to a maximum size of 20′ high and wide.

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3 Comments
  • Carol Trippel '72
    Posted at 14:09h, 15 March Reply

    these are really beautiful, but hard to find for purchase (at least in Indiana)

  • abby jenkins
    Posted at 12:28h, 07 May Reply

    I just bought a gorgeous specimen at our arboretum’s annual plant sale. Can’t wait to plant it near our barn, which we just painted matte black, she is going to be perfect right there underplanted with hellebores and ferns.

  • john
    Posted at 02:33h, 12 March Reply

    Does this variety have much fragrance? I love the coy, subtle flavor of the H. mollis, but i’ve heard some cultivars have lost their nose in favor of a particular color. How does this one smell?

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