The bloom looks like the head of a miniature floor mop or shredded coconut. The petals are about an inch long. The flowers curl up when temperatures drop and unfurl in the sun. There seems to be no limit to the number of times the flowers can open and close, Weber said. And the show lasts for weeks, even through snowy weather.
Many varieties are fragrant, some are spicy, others have a sweet, honey fragrance.
Because Weber especially loves witch hazel, he carries 15 different cultivars. Arnold Promise, introduced by Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, is most widely known. Diane is one of the best reds. Her cousin Jelena is red, fading to orange and yellow at the base of the petals, so the overall effect is copper. Pallida is another yellow with long, fragrant petals.