With it's beautiful, often highly scented flowers, it's easy to see why Hamamelis (or witch hazel as it's commonly known) is a favourite shrub for winter gardens. If you catch a glimpse of one when the low winter sun backlights the flowers, it truly is a sight to behold. And not only do they look fantastic in winter, but they provide a backdrop of greenery in summer, followed by vivid leaf colour in autumn. This shrub is a real doer! No wonder it's our 'Plant of the Moment' here at The Mains of Drum!

Most of the Hamamelis you find in garden centres will be Hamamelis x intermedia, a cross between the Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis and the Japanese witch hazel, Hamamelis japonica.

Not only are they beautiful plants, but certain species of Hamamelis have a long history of being used medicinally and for cosmetics. The extract from the leaves, bark, and twigs have been used to treat irritated skin and inflamed tissues for hundreds of years. Native Americans would traditionally have used Hamamelis virginiana to treat common colds, as well as other illnesses. Early settlers also used the leaves to make tea for various medicinal purposes.

It's a good idea to plant your Hamamelis in a spot reasonably close to a path or walkway, as you'll be able to enjoy it's sweet scent each time you walk by in winter. They like to be planted in full sun or part shade, in a pretty well-drained soil. The firework-like flowers come in a range of different shades of yellow, orange and red depending on variety, and add a wonderful pop of fiery colour just when the garden is needing it most. Most varieties grow up to approximately 2.5-4m in height and spread, so they are ideal for smaller gardens too.

We have a good selection of Hamamelis in store currently, ranging in size and price.