‘Advent’ is an upright, many-branched shrub, 9’-10’ tall that grows in sun to partial shade and is noted for its early blooms, starting in February, as soon as temperatures rise above around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Each tiny yellow flower has four strap-like petals with red tips emerging from a maroon-red calyx. When temperatures drop below freezing, the petals will curl up and then open again when warmer temperatures return. Large rounded leaves with wavy margins are initially yellow-green changing to sage-green in the summer before becoming yellow in autumn.

Intermediate witch hazels were created by the hybridization of Hamamelis japonica (native to Japan) and Hamamelis mollis (native to western China).