I walked out into my garden today and discovered my witchhazel in full bloom!
Hamamelis virginiana or the common witchhazel is a lovely North American native shrub hardy to zone 3. Yellow fragrant flowers appear in the fall, often as late as December as mine has done happily. Normally the flowers are obscured by the yellow fall leaves but most of them have fallen off now and the flowers are a welcome sight as winter looms.
With its lovely spreading habit and late flowers, this native should be found in every garden.
Garden Graces 