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Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’

26 Feb

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' Flower (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ Flower (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Sun to dappled shade

Flowering period: Winter

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 4m

Eventual Spread: 4m

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Hamamelidaceae

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ is a medium sized, deciduous spreading small tree or large shrub. The light green alternate leaves emerge from short-stalked buds. The leaves are elliptic to nearly circular in shape, irregularly toothed along their edges and become a yellow/ orange/ red in autumn. Its yellow flowers appear in clusters. Its petals are long, thin and crinkled. The fruit is a two part capsule. It is usually grafted onto the rootstock of one of the other species of Hamamelis.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ is commonly known as the Hybrid Witch Hazel Arnold Promise. The species is a hybrid between Hamamelis mollis and Hamamelis japonica. Subjective research has been carried out on the relative fragrance and leaf retention of various Hamamelis species and varieties by the curators of  Scott Arboretum.

The etymological root of the binomial name Hamamelis is derived from the Greek amamelis ‘a tree with pear like fruits’. Intermedia is derived from the Latin inter meaning ‘between’ and medius meaning ‘middle’ in reference to this hybrid being between its two parents in terms of characteristics.

The landscape architect may find Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ useful in dappled shade locations as a small tree with attractive, mildly fragrant winter flowers and autumn leaf colour.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically,  Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ flowers attract members of the Lepidoptera family which includes butterflies and moths.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers neutral to acidic soils.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ requires little maintenance.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’

24 Feb

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' Flower (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ Flower (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Sun to dappled shade

Flowering period: Winter

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 4m

Eventual Spread: 4m

Hardiness: 5a,  5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Hamamelidaceae

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ is a medium sized, deciduous spreading small tree or large shrub. The light green alternate leaves emerge from short-stalked buds. The leaves are elliptic to nearly circular in shape, irregularly toothed along their edges and become a yellow/ red in autumn. Some of the autumn leaves are retained on this tree through the winter months. Its red  flowers appear in clusters. Its petals are long, thin and crinkled. The fruit is a two part capsule. It is usually grafted onto the rootstock of one of the other species of Hamamelis.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ is commonly known as the Hybrid Witch Hazel Diane. The species is a hybrid between Hamamelis mollis and Hamamelis japonica. Subjective research has been carried out on the relative fragrance and leaf retention of various Hamamelis species and varieties by the curators of  Scott Arboretum.

The etymological root of the binomial name Hamamelis is derived from the Greek amamelis ‘a tree with pear like fruits’. Intermedia is derived from the Latin inter meaning ‘between’ and medius meaning ‘middle’ in reference to this hybrid being between its two parents in terms of characteristics.

The landscape architect may find Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ useful in dappled shade locations as a small tree with attractive winter flowers and autumn leaf colour.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically,  Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ flowers attract members of the Lepidoptera family which includes butterflies and moths.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers neutral to acidic soils.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ requires little maintenance.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’

23 Feb

Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki' (08/02/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ (08/02/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, well drained

Flowering period: Late summer to autumn

Eventual Height: 1.5m

Eventual Spread: 1.5m

Hardiness: 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Oleaceae

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ is an evergreen shrub with a rounded dense habit. Its dark green variegated leaves are holly like with entire margins, have large spines and are up to 7cm long and 4cm broad. Its sharp spines become diminished on mature plants. Its white flowers are tubular with a jasmine like scent, although it rarely flower and they are sparse.  Its blue/black fruit are ovoid and up to 1cm across.

The species Osmanthus heterophyllus, commonly known  as the False Holly, Holly Osmanthus and Holly Olive, is native to Asian islands of Taiwan and Japan.

The etymological root of the binomial name Osmanthus is derived from the Greek osme ‘perfume’ and anthus ‘flower’. Heterophyllus is derived from the Greek etero ‘different’ and fullon ‘leaf’, in reference to the different forms of the leaf.

Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki' Leaf (08/02/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ Leaf (08/02/15, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ useful as a variegated specimen shrub.

Ecologically,  Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ is attractive to pollinating insects.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2012.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ prefers moist, fertile well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil, although it prefers neutral to acidic soils.

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ requires little maintenance.

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