THE garden in winter has a lot more to offer in the way of colour and scent than we might at first imagine. Witch hazel, or hamamelis, is one of the top shrubs for winter interest, with breathtakingly unusual, brightly coloured, scented flowers guaranteed to illuminate the garden from December to March.
Yet, despite the exoticism of the delicate, ribbon-like blooms that appear in clusters on bare stems, and the sweet, distinctive fragrance, these are tough garden shrubs and they are deceptively easy to grow.
For large and small gardens
Witch hazels are medium-sized deciduous shrubs, with a good form, largely vase shaped or fluted, but they often grow as wide as they are tall. They make a good choice for large and small garden spaces, and many varieties also…