Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’

A shrub that flowers in winter and stands up to anything the weather throws at it is invaluable. Witch hazel is that shrub!

Their flowers are like little pieces of orange or lemon peel scrunched up and stuck onto bare branches. Lemon peel, in the case of probably the most popular witch hazel ‘Pallida’ and orange peel, in the case of ‘Jelena’. There’s also one that’s more of a blood orange – ‘Diane’ is one of the best reds. Apart from their colour on dark winter days, it’s their perfume that you’ll notice. Catch it on the air and you’ll find yourself searching for the source of such a spicy scent. E.A Bowles, the famous edwardian gardener, called it the Epiphany tree, as it’s usually in flower by January 6th and smells like frankincense.

There are four species within the genus, two from America and two from Asia. All are woody, deciduous and most flower in winter or early spring. The exception being Hamamelis virginiana which flowers in autumn. This is the plant that produces the extract used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. All the witch hazels have foliage that is hazel like and give good autumn colour.

In cultivation, hybrids between the Japanese and Chinese witch hazels have been bred to give us some of the most popular plants available today. They are known as the Hamamelis x intermedia hybrids and include the named varieties already mentioned, all three of which have been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

These shrubs have a compact, goblet shape when young, but don’t be deceived – they gradually spread outwards becoming large, spreading plants. Not suitable for small gardens or narrow borders I’m afraid. I have to enjoy them when visiting other gardens. Locally, Fletcher Moss and The Parsonage gardens currently have specimens flowering. The winter garden at Dunham Massey also has some good specimens.

If you do have room for a witch hazel, plant with plenty of compost to aid water retention as these plants don’t like dry conditions. Neutral to slightly acid soil is preferred and a sunny position.