Hamamelis x intermedia Orange Peel - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Orange Peel' is a variety of Witch Hazel with beautiful orange flowers. Clearly visible on the naked wood, the flowers that appear in the middle of winter create a scene of great beauty. The habit of this variety is not spreading like the others, but narrower, making it easily recognizable. Its stems are adorned with leaves resembling those of the hazel tree, a beautiful dark green. In autumn, they gradually turn yellow, orange, and red, in a spectacle that never gets old. The ornamental qualities of this shrub require a little patience, as its growth is slow.

Hamamelis gives its name to the family of Hamamelidaceae to which it belongs, as well as to plants appreciated by enthusiasts and collectors: Parrotia (or ironwood), Fothergilla, Loropetalum, or Disanthus. The Hamamelis genus has only five species, three from North America and two from Asia, Hamamelis japonica and H. mollis, which through cross-breeding have given rise to H. x intermedia. 'Orange Peel' is a relatively old variety, obtained by Robert and Jelena de Belder and brought to the market by the arboretum of Kalmthout (Belgium, north of Antwerp) in 1998. Literally meaning "orange peel," it owes its name to both the colour of its flowers and the width of the petals, which is greater than in other cultivars. Its habit is also different, being noticeably narrower than most varieties with a spreading silhouette. It forms a few very upright main branches, with a fairly closed angle to the vertical, and as it ages, it tends to round off. At maturity, it will measure approximately 3m in height and 2m in width, which will take about twenty years. In January-February, or February-March depending on the region and climate, the naked wood is covered with small flowers of intense orange, formed by four petals in the shape of slightly frizzy filaments attached to a purple calyx. With their spider-like grace, the flowers bloom in good weather and are capable of folding up to protect themselves from too cold temperatures. Slightly fragrant, they brighten up the dark winter days with their orange-gold colour. The foliage appears after flowering: measuring approximately 10 to 12cm long and 6 to 8cm wide, the leaves are oval in shape. Dark green on the upper side and lighter on the underside, they have well-marked veins. They are carried by short petioles of 1cm and are slightly pendulous. They constitute the shrub's second ornamental asset when they create a polychromatic symphony in shades of yellow, orange, and red in autumn, before finally falling to the ground.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Orange Peel' likes humus-rich, limestone-poor, fresh, and light soils. It particularly associates well with acid-loving plants, allowing you to create a flower-filled scene all year round. The charming Magnolia stellata, with its star-shaped flowers of immaculate white, takes over in March and April, transitioning to Rhododendrons and Azaleas. From the small Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Silberwolke' with its pretty pink flowers in May-June, to the giant Rhododendron ponticum, which can reach 5m in height and offers a violet-colored flowering in late spring, they have dark green foliage that will enhance the orange flowers of the Hamamelis. Then, you just have to choose from the range of Hydrangeas (Hydrangea) to flower your summer until autumn, when the Camellia sasanqua will take over.