Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise'
Arnold Promise Witch Hazel
- Family
- Hamamelidaceae
- Height
- 10 to 15 feet
- Width
- 10 to 15 feet
- Flower color
- Golden yellow, often tinged with red
- Foliage color
- Dark green, turning yellow, orange, and red in fall
- Bloom time
- Late winter to early spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate; prefers moist, well-draining soil
- Maintenance
- Low; occasional pruning to shape
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 5 to 8
- Wildlife
- Provides early-season nectar for pollinators like bees
About this plant
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' is a deciduous shrub renowned for its stunning winter blooms and attractive foliage. The fragrant, spidery golden-yellow flowers, often tinged with red, appear in late winter to early spring when the shrub is still leafless, providing valuable early-season nectar for pollinators like bees. The large, oval leaves are dark green and slightly hairy, turning vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall, adding a splash of color to the landscape before they drop.
Relatively easy to grow and low-maintenance, 'Arnold Promise' prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. It is also pest and disease resistant, making it a reliable choice for gardeners. Its striking winter blooms and attractive foliage make it a valuable addition to any garden, providing interest and color during the dreary winter months.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Fragrant Gardens · Winter Interest · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Oleaster · Mexican orange blossom · Sneezeweed · Black-eyed Susan · Sea thrift · Common sage
Design tip
‘Arnold Promise’ offers strong interest at both ends of the growing season. Use it as a specimen where its golden winter flowers can command attention, followed months later by a broad display of yellow, orange, and red autumn foliage.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
