Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’

Plant of the month: February

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’

Hamamelis, ‘Witch Hazels’ are deciduous shrubs which colour up well in the autumn, but are mainly grown for their stunning flowers.

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ has spectacular spider like flowers in a rich deep red with a wonderful scent, which is more apparent on warm, sunny days. Unfortunately some people cannot smell the scent.

It is in flower now and has been in flower for a few weeks but will continue for the next month, the flowers even seem to cope with freezing – they just shrug it off and carry on. They will grow in any aspect, in any moist well drained soil. They are fairly slow growing, but can eventually reach up to 4 metres by 4 metres after 20 years, and require no pruning.