The strappy yellow petals of this Japanese witch-hazel brighten up this winter day, the first week of January 2026. This Hamamelis japonica, its scientific name, started blooming in December and now in January the tree is turning a vibrant yellow.
I photographed this particular tree growing in a minipark in Vancouver’s West End, the blossoms on January 1 and the whole tree on January 4.
Witch-hazel trees are in Hamamelidaceae, the witch-hazel family.
Although the yellow blossoms are evident,