The first time, I had a corylopsis spicata in a semi- shady environment in an area that grew grass/weeds which I had cleared out. It didn't return. My witch hazel I put on the west side of my house which sounds extreme except that the sun was blocked by an oak tree.The leaves began to brown, so I thought the soil was too compacted; I moved it in the fall to an area near an ancient ash tree. I put a new corylopsis on the east side of this ash (afternoon shade) and the wtich hazel on the west (overhanging ash branches provide shade). These plants had been grown and leafed out in quart pots. The soil has organic matter (rotted wood) and drains well and I did put some peat based mix in with the soil to make it a little more acidic. I did not water once the weather became more wintry and we had a lot of snow cover that lasted. Voles, yes but no trails around these plants. They just look like grey sticks. I have woods surrounding me across the street as it is a country environmment but these aren't planted in native woodsy humus situation. I'm not sure these are native to my PA area. The only place I've seen witch hazels or corylopsis actually growing were in the high woodland shade at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County, MD. I'm kind of wondering if it is a particular type of plant community situation/mycorrhizae that is required and why they are the only plant I can't seem to grow. (I do grow blueberries, but I put peat in when I planted and use sulfur to keep my soil within their preferred range. ) I never fertilize when transplanting shrubs or trees. It may be a watering situation, but it was fall and they were going dormant.

"it is definitely a spring bloomer-I checked my tag. Its the red bloom variety" What else does the tag say? Sure it's a native and not an intermedia? Diane or Jalena? They should be much showier than the native which should be expected to be beautiful but understated. Try to check out some vernalis in situ to really appreciate what the native form is like. The native vernalis has a red form I know of called "amathyst". They are very pretty but unassuming. Blooms are very red/purple. Most witchhazel blloms appear more profuse on hotter, sunnier days and sort of retract at night and on cold, overcast days. You've had it just one season and moved it. Maybe give it more time and it will grow on you?

My Diane has about 5 years in my garden and was a decent sized shrub (maybe 3'x3') when I planted it. It tends to grow a bit wider than tall - Chris Lane in his book on witch hazels gives its ultimate size as 2.5m tall x 3m wide. However, I'm at the northern edge of the range for H. x intermedia cultivars, so I don't expect that it will ever reach that. I am grateful for the snow cover since it helps with protection on those cold winter nights. Mine has grown slowly and since we still have about 3 1/2 to 5 feet on the ground (depending on the drifting) it is still buried. (My shorter compost pile is also completely buried, and last week when I mistakenly stepped off the path I've packed out to the compost I instantly sank to my hip and had a hard time getting free . . . we are still in full winter mode for a few weeks.) From what I read, neither Diane nor Arnold Promise are especially early bloomers when compared to other witch hazels though they are compared to almost any other woody plant in this area. I think the appeal of AP is the scent and the bright, relatively large flowers, while the deep red-orange color is the appeal of Diane. I would love to have an AP or an Angelly or one of the other scented, yellow, large-flowered H. x intermedia, but Diane is the only one I've ever seen around here, and mail order ones are so small.

I'm planning to install Witch Hazel in my new kitchen. Never thought I'd consider Corian, but as CKGM says, this ain't your Momma's Corian. I'm using because I it's the perfect compromise for the white/light countertop I want without the staining, etching, chipping risks of the natural materials. I know it's expensive--but I'm looking forward to years of stress free countertop maintenance. And it truly is gorgeous!