MAGICAL WITCH HAZEL
Trust this bright, golden shrub to stave off the winter blues . . .
THAT marvellous time of year when witch hazels unfurl their curious, spidery flowers will soon be here, telling us that spring is one step closer. Unlike most winter shrubs, witch hazels seem to work by the calendar rather than temperature, so when my daphnes, Chimonanthus and winter honeysuckle rushed into bloom before Christmas, the witch hazel buds stayed tight, awaiting longer days.
Witch hazels (Hamamelis) are hardy, easy to grow and have year-round value. Mature plants have attractive, evenly spaced limbs and are never overcrowded. On a rotten February day, it can be a joy to gaze through that haze of golden blossom.
all varieties are slow-growing and although most grow 12ft high and wide, they take a long time getting there but look beautiful at every age. You can prune them, but always do so with tact. Winter planting is fine, so if you buy young plants now, you can enjoy the flowers this year. Most varieties are available online (try crocus.co.uk) or in well-stocked garden centres.
Planting them outside is fine, provided they have not been softened up in a glasshouse. they prefer well-drained, humus-rich soil in sun or part-shade, so work plenty of well-rotted compost into poor or chalky soils.
JANUARY COLOUR
THE name has nothing to do with people riding broomsticks or with hazelnuts. ‘Witch’ is a corruption of the Saxon ‘wicke’ meaning pliable (as in wickerwork) and the leaves resemble hazel foliage.
Witch hazels originate from China, Japan and North america. the soothing astringent is extracted from a North american species, Hamamelis virginiana. alas, it hides its autumn flowers among dying foliage and, therefore, lacks garden value.
asian Hamamelis m ollis and H. japonica unclench their blooms from late January and look lovely until early spring but the best garden varieties result from crossing them to produce H. x intermedia. Colours vary from the clotted cream hue of H.x intermedia ‘Pallida’ through yellow and ochre to rusty red.
LOVELY COMPANIONS
I LOVE them all but my garden has space for only two. H.xi ntermedia arnold Promise has cowslip-yellow flowers. Nearby grows Diane, whose branches provide an array of red blooms.
Both colour superbly in autumn. Diane turns crimson then scarlet while the leaves of arnold Promise become gold, russet and finally, orange.
Other gorgeous varieties include Jelena, whose flowers are amber, pale yellow H. japonica Sulphurea and the prolific, primrose yellow H. xi ntermedia Sunburst.
Witch hazels need shelter from strong winds, can be slow to establish and may sulk for a year after planting. Branches are easily damaged and regrowth will be slow, so plant carefully.
they are especially beautiful among well-spaced trees or with other shrubs. Give them space; not too close to walls or fences.
I use a fungal booster such as Rootgrow for all new shrubs or trees. It helps traumatised root systems to recover quickly, reduces planting stress and seems to kick-start growth.
and don’t forget companion plants. My shrubs are underplanted with oriental hellebores, snowdrops and winter aconites. Snake’s-head fritillaries, narcissus and blue scillas come later in an explosion of spring colour, by which time I am already missing those winter moments when low sun makes the witch hazels flash their first new-spun gold.