Corylopsis himalayana
Credits
Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles
Recommended citation
'Corylopsis himalayana' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Synonyms
- C. manipurensis Watt ex Hemsl.
In its typical state (var. himalayana) this differs from its var. griffithii in its smaller leaves (to 4 in. long) and its very slender inflorescences. It is a native of Manipur, the hills of Assam and the eastern Himalaya. It may have been introduced in the last century, but the plants now in cultivation are from seed sent to the National Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, Eire, in 1972.
var. griffithii (Hemsl.) B.D.Morley & J.M.Chao
Synonyms
Corylopsis griffithii Hemsl.
A shrub with very downy young wood. Leaves 3 to 41⁄2 in. long, 2 to 3 in. wide, broadly ovate or roundish, more or less heart-shaped at the base, long-pointed, toothed; upper surface pale green, not downy, lower one downy, especially on veins and midrib; stalk 1 to 11⁄2 in. long. Flowers pale primrose-yellow, very closely packed on pendulous spikes, 11⁄2 to 21⁄2 in. long, 3⁄4 in. wide; basal bracts very thin, silky inside, oblong, 1⁄2 to 1 in. long, those of the flowers much smaller and silky both sides; anthers purplish red. Bot. Mag., t. 6779.
Native of the Himalaya, with a distribution much the same as that of the typical variety, with a western limit in Bhutan (Clarke 1988). Introduced to Kew in 1879. One of the most ornamental of Corylopsis, this is, unfortunately, not hardy enough to succeed without wall protection. It may be recommended for the south-western counties.