Scientific Name: Disanthus cercidifolius
Common Name: Redbud Hazel
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Native Range: Japan and southeast China
Hardiness:  Cold hardy to USDA Zone 5
Location in the Arboretum: Lower Woodland Garden pond, just east of Azalea Way & southeast of the Australia Entry Garden in Pacific Connections (Grid 5-5E); can also be found at Center for Urban Horticulture, espaliered along the west side of the Northwest Horticultural Society (NHS) Hall

Disanthus cercidifolius, the redbud hazel, is perhaps the best shrub for fall color in the shady or woodland garden. It never fails to put on a remarkably outstanding show each year. While fall may be rapidly giving way to winter in the garden, and most leaves have fallen, the plant is showing its quietly ornamental flowers through November.

Redbud hazel is another fine ornamental species in the Hamamelidaceae, the witch hazel family. The common name derives from the leaf’s strong resemblance to redbuds or Cercis species, but the flowers show its relationship to witch hazels. Spring leaves are bluish-green and alternately arranged on branches on arching stems.

Native to Japan and southeast China, redbud hazel thrives in dappled shade, but will still color reliably in reds, yellows and oranges in deeper shade. It prefers well drained soils and does best with some summer water in our drier summers. However, well-established plants sited out of the afternoon sun can tolerate drier conditions if soils aren’t too sandy.

Disanthus cercidifolius will generally grow moderately to 6-8 feet in gardens, but with summer water can grow more quickly and can, in time, grow larger. But most cultivated specimens seem to be in the 6-8’ range in height and width.  Fall color is uniformly outstanding from year to year. Color starts early and intensifies throughout the fall. Reds are brilliant, and most coloring will generally be in the orange-red and red-purple range. If backlit by sun, plants will seem to glow in the autumn light.

This is a vase-shaped shrub, like many witch hazel species. Shrubs are multi-stemmed and take pruning well. Taller stems can be pruned to the ground if you want to keep a bit smaller, but it is best left to grow to a natural shape. As seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture on the west side of the Northwest Horticultural Society (NHS) Hall, it is also a suitable subject for espalier.

In the Arboretum we have several fine examples. The most dramatically vivid are two planted next to each other at the lower Woodland Garden pond, just east of Azalea Way. These date from 1950 (Accession #1360-50) and are on the hill at the northeast side of the pond. Unmistakable in fall, these can be viewed from the platform on the pond or the from main east-west trail through the Woodland Garden south of the pond. It is dramatically lit in the afternoon light.

Two other examples from this accession can be found in the old Witch Hazel family section at the southeast of the Australia Entry Garden in Pacific Connections in Grid 5-5E. These are large specimens between the Broadmoor fence and the looped path at the east of the Australia Entry Garden and unmistakable in fall.

The most easily seen at close view is a newly planted example, accession 84-23-A, in the renovated bed west of the Graham Visitors Center. Here it takes center stage in the light woodland plantings between lower growing rhododendrons, ferns and hellebores.

The flowers are very curious and while quite small, they are charming in their own right. They are produced late in the season, generally before leaf drop. But they are most easily seen after leaves have fallen, where they appear at the end of leaf axils on branch tips. Only ½ inch across, they have five narrow tapering petals of purplish red.  Some years are better than others for flowering, but this year the specimen at the Center for Urban Horticulture is flowering in relative abundance. Odor is faint and described as medicinal and sometimes lightly unpleasant.

This is occasionally available in nurseries but usually at specialty plant sales or by mail order. It is well worth seeking out.