Plant of the month - witch hazel

Is there anything more uplifting in the depths of winter than discovering the first few spidery flowers unfurling on a witch hazel?  These otherworldly blooms provide a bright miniature explosion of colour when everything is brown and grey, and the promise of more to come, as it’s one of the first plants in the garden to come into flower at the beginning of each year.

Hamamelis, or witch hazel, is a hardy deciduous shrub which provides interest in the garden all year round.  Aside from its winter flowering, Hamamelis bears large oval leaves in spring and summer, which bear all the shades of autumn before dropping in winter.  The weird, papery flowers also come in bright yellow, orange or fiery red and are borne on the bare stems, making them easy to spot, with a spicy scent which can be more noticeable when they’re warmed by a little winter sunshine.

Witch hazel can grow quite large - up to 10-13ft for some varieties.  They don’t need special conditions and they’re very easy to look after; pruning is only needed occasionally to tidy up wayward or crossing branches.  Plant them in a sunny spot to benefit from the light catching their unusual stems and the bonus of catching their fragrance as you pass by.