Deciduous shrub to 5 m or more tall. Leaves alternate, to 10 cm wide, entire, orbicular to ovate, palmately veined with 5-7 nerves, entire, long-stalked, waxy-blue below; red and deep orange in autumn. Flowers axillary, in 2s, dull red, 1-1.5 cm wide, bisexual, slightly fragrant. Sepals 5, hairy, curved back. Petals 5; autumn. Carpel 1. Ovary superior with 2 chambers. Fruit a capsule, each chamber with several seeds.

Generally considered to possess many ancient characters of the family.

Japan.

Heart-shaped leaves colouring bright orange and red in autumn; flowers like those of Hamamelis but violet-purple.

NSW: Mt Tomah ('Joalah'). VIC: Mt Macedon ('Forest Glades' c. 3 m in 1984).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Hamamelidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.