My Witchhazel Seems Confused?!?

Oddly enough, I was out enjoying some of my yard's fall colors, and came upon my Witchhazel (aka "Endora"). Named for my favorite TV Witch of course.

She's been growing since 2007, when I bought her as a tiny stick at Portland Nursery. I couldn't afford to buy a sizable plant at the time, so I got a 1-gallon pot for $17 or so. Endora was just a stick baby when I first got her.

Since then, she's grown tall and more vase-shaped, spreading out over the back flower bed. The first few winters, she held on to her dried brown leaves, shedding them in spring. I think she was just trying to keep warm.

Although clothed for winter, she never bloomed.

Which brings me to today.

Hamamelis virginiana (American Witchhazel)

Endora, much like her namesake, is giving it her all in a flamboyant display of fall color AND flowers.

I'd generally be looking for flowers in January or February, but Endora seems a little screwed up this year. Like a Christmas Cactus that blooms at Easter. 

The flowers are "fragrant", but not in a nice perfume way, more in a medicinal way. Her fall color should turn a deep, golden yellow as fall progresses.

Beautiful fall color.

View across the front yard.

We'll see if she's old enough now to go through winter in the buff.