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BACKGROUND
This plant finds its origin in Arboretum Kalmthout. It has been selected by
Antoine Kort in 1935 and originated from the same bed as Hamamelis x intermedia
‘Ruby Glow’ (Hamamelis japonica var. flavo-purpurascens pollinated by Hamamelis
mollis).
This plant has never been named properly but has been known as “the brother of Ruby Glow”.
The plant is given the cultivar name ‘Antoine Kort’ in honour of Ir. Antoine Kort who started, on his nursery, which became the later Arboretum Kalmthout, the first selection work on Hamamelis in Belgium. Several of his selections have been named by the de Belders, who acquired his passion for the genus of Hamamelis.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Below is a detailed description of Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Antoine Kort’, based on the mother-plant in Arboretum Kalmthout – Belgium and a 15 years old clone in Arboretum Wespelaar – Belgium. The colour terminology is from the RHS Colour Charts.
Habit and size:
Healthy growing, branching, multistemmed shrub, flat and wide spreading habit. After several decades the adult shrub can get up to 7m wide and up to 3.5m high.
Foliage:
The leaves have a dark green colour in the growing season, turning deep yellow in late autumn (usually not starting before the beginning of November) ending with the shrivel up of the leaf margins. Ultimately all the brown leaves fall off, sometimes very few brown leaves remain on the branches in wintertime but only on very young shoots sprouting from the base of the plant.
Leaves approx. 11cm by 7.5cm, asymmetrical obovate form with rounded to cuspidate leaf tip and asymmetrical cordate base. Margins crenate, venation pinnate. The upper leaf surface is glabrous, the abaxial side is covered with stellate hairs.
Flower:
Rich flowering on the outside of the shrub. Flowers in small groups of 2 or 3 (-4).
Petals uniquely coloured: proximal a dark colour comparable to that of the calyx, which is purplish-red at the basis and gets gradual yellowish orange towards the apex of the petals; oxblood red (RHS 0083/2). It gives the flowers a special reddish-tinted colour from a distance and flesh-coloured tint from nearby. Petals 18-20 mm by 2 mm, wrinkled and at first with the end turned towards the centre of the flower. Petals wide open.
Sepals dark purplish-red on the inside, maroon on the outside, recurving.
Slightly perfumed medium-sized flowers appear pretty soon (sometimes even before
the 1st of January) with 90% to 100% at the end of January or beginning of
February. Hardly no colour-changing towards the end of the flowering period, the
petals just fall off.
Many large fruits in autumn, containing large seeds.
Comparison with other Hamamelis x intermedia cultivars:
‘Antoine Kort’ is comparable to ‘Feuerzauber’ but does not have the brown-orange
tint in the petals; ‘Diane’ is obviously deeper red; ‘Jelena’ is obviously
deeper yellow. ‘Antoine Kort’ is closest to ‘Ruby Glow’ but superior because the
colours of the petals of ‘Antoine Kort’ are deeper/darker than those of ‘Ruby
Glow’. The flowers of ‘Ruby Glow’ are thus paler giving them a more washed-out
general appearance.
‘Antoine Kort’ is probably the cultivar with the most vigorous growth and the
best vitality, certainly at age.
Description: A. Rammeloo & K. Camelbeke, January 2003 (Arboretum Kalmthout / Arboretum Wespelaar)