A couple of weeks ago I was walking on the sea wall by Granville Island with a friend and we saw a stunning sight. A witch hazel (Hamamelis) in full, glorious bloom. Its yellow flowers were like miniature suns scattered all over it's branches. Hamamelis intermedia or Witch Hazels as they are commonly known are an excellent shrub for your garden because they bloom when we most need it: Winter. Witch Hazels are easy to grow, relatively pest free and they are all fragrant although some are more fragrant than others. They thrive in rich-well drained soil, but will tolerate sand and clay if the drainage is good. Provide them with a location that is in full sun to light shade. Watering them regularly during dry weather will ensure good flowering but well established plants are somewhat drought tolerant. Witch Hazels tend to be spreaders so keep that in mind when selecting where best to plant yours.
Most people will recognize the yellow flowering form of Witch Hazel but there are several coppery-red flowering forms. Hamamelis 'Diane' is one of these. While not as fragrant as the yellow flowering forms the colour is exquisite and gives your garden a touch of real beauty when it is most appreciated. Besides the colour of the flowers the other characteristic I like about 'Diane' is that it has a more compact, vase-like form. This makes it a great candidate for the smaller, urban garden. As an added bonus, in the fall the leaves turn a lovely yellowy orange colour. Diane will reach a height of around 10 feet and a spread of 10 feet after 10 years and is a zone 6 tree.
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| Hamamelis 'Diane' Photo courtesy of Great Plant Picks |
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