The Massachusetts Medical Society Grounds

Hamamelis vernalis 'Arnold Promise'
The spring blooming Witch Hazel is a medium to large-sized ornamental shrub maturing at about 8' tall by 8' wide. Hamamelis is from Greek words meaning "at the same time" and "apple", possibly because flowers and fruits are present simultaneously; vernalis refers to the spring-blooming habit. An extract of the bark of this and other species of Hamamelis is used in witch-hazel lotion.

The fragrant greenish yellow flowers are in tight clusters, usually opening during the few warm days of February and persisting into March or early April. They have four narrow petals that unfurl on relatively warm and sunny days, but roll up and withdraw on cold days to avoid freezing damage.

Like forsythia, stem cuttings can be forced indoors (or taken indoors once bloom has started) to usher in the coming of spring. The fruit, a two-valved capsule is a drab chartreuse-olive color in late Summer, eventually splitting open and flaring at its ends. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.

The MMS specimen is planted outside the cafeteria next to the Green Team hawthorn.