What Did Arnold Promise
This page is being updated, with new plants being added regularly. Please visit again soon to explore our growing selection!
Witch Hazels (Hamamelis)
In 1909, Ernest “Chinese“ Wilson collected seed of the Chinese Witch Hazel, Hamamelis mollis, and sent it to be grown at Boston’s Arnold Arboretum. In 1928 the Arnold collected and sowed seed from these plants, resulting in several seedlings which had hybrid characteristics intermediate between Hamamelis mollis and another species growing in their collection, the Japanese Witch Hazel, Hamamelis japonica. Subsequently, in 1945, the Arnold Arboretum published a description of these hybrids, describing them as Hamamelis x intermedia, thus granting all plants with this parentage the proper taxonomic standing. In 1963 one of them was given the cultivar name ‘Arnold Promise’ becoming the first officially recognized H. x intermedia cultivar and probably now one of the most commonly grown Witch Hazels in the United States.
Tim Brotzman knew very little of this history when, one winter day in 1975, he found himself working under a towering Witch Hazel in full bloom at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden, Wisley, England. The yellow blossoms filled the woodland canopy like stars in the sky and a sweet perfume hung in the air… Inspired by what he had seen and upon returning to his family’s nursery in Ohio, he set out to collect and grow every Hamamelis selection he could find. Working with enthusiasts from around the world, especially British Hamamelis expert, Mr. Chris Lane, and Mr. Abraham Rammeloo from Arboretum Kalmthout in Belgium, Brotzman’s now have nearly 200 distinct cultivars in production. Certainly a lot has happened since ‘Arnold Promise‘ was introduced to the gardening world 60 years ago.
“We are adding “What Did Arnold Promise” to our website as a searchable reference for all of the Witch Hazels grown at Brotzman’ Nursery. With such a large and evolving collection, updating our site will be an on-going process. Our current mix makes it possible for us to have something in flower from Halloween until Easter and we intend to provide information that will link specific cultivars with their blooming period, flower color and plant habit. Characteristics such as fragrance and autumn color are subjective and can vary from year to year, but will be noted as experienced here at our nursery in NE Ohio. Witch Hazels have no peer in banishing the dullness of winter’s retreat from our landscapes, and we hope you find them as entrancing as we have.”
Tim Brotzman
