Herbal powers: witch hazel

The flowers of the witch hazel survive the harshest frosts and bring colour to the garden during drab winter months. The petals have a distinctive spidery look and exude a lovely fragrance, from sweet to spicy. This large woody shrub will flourish in a shady spot.

Witch hazel is distilled to form a medicinal extract and is well known for its ability to ease inflammation and soothe sensitive skin. An entire skin cleansing and calming regime can be found in Boots’ Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Cleansing Kit, £10, boots.com.