Hamamelis mollis (witch hazel)

Hamamelis mollis will brighten up your garden during the winter months. In early January the curled, strap-shaped petals gently unfurl and the resulting spider-shaped, yellow flowers borne on bare branches will fill the cold air with a beautiful scent. Why not plant a witch hazel in your garden and cut the flowering twigs to perfume indoor rooms in winter?

Witch hazels make good specimen plants and are also effective in a woodland edge, a winter border or alongside a path, where their fragrance can be appreciated. They are fairly slow growing shrubs which will thrive in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. They can be planted in full sun or partial shade in a site that is open but not exposed.