Hamamelis 'Brevipetala' @ Hyde Hall

The Woodland Garden at Hyde Hall always comes alive in late winter when the first camellias are bursting into bloom and the understorey of snowdrops, winter aconites and hellebores are emerging from their winter hibernation. As well as the camellias one of the first shrubs that comes into flower in late January is the witch hazel. We have several different cultivars of witch hazel or Hamamelis at Hyde Hall and Hamamelis 'Brevipetala' can be found in the Woodland Garden near the Top Pond. This shrub can often be smelled before it is seen, as its small spidery flowers exude a wonderful fragrance. As you get nearer, its small bright yellow flowers can be seen, which add wonderful colour to the garden at this time of year.

Hamamelis

This genus contains five or six species of deciduous, winter-flowering shrubs, found in woodland margins and riverbanks in eastern Asia and North America.

The leaves are alternate, broadly ovate or obovate in shape and they provide attractive autumn colour.

The flowers are fragrant, spider-shaped, yellow or reddish with strap-shaped petals, clustered on the bare branches from winter to spring.

The fruit is a horned capsule containing two shiny black seeds.

Witch hazels make good specimen plants and are also effective in groups in a shrub border.

Hamamelis is the Greek name for a plant with a pear-shaped fruit, possibly the medlar. The twigs are a favourite choice of water-diviners. The bark and twigs of H. virginiana supply the pharmaceutical witch hazel.

Hamamelis ‘Brevipetala’ syn. Hamamelis mollis ‘Brevipetala’

This is probably a hybrid and not a form of H. mollis.

It is an erect shrub with broadly oval, softly hairy, mid-green leaves, up to 15cm (6in) long, which turn yellow in autumn.

It bears dense clusters of very fragrant flowers, up to 1.5cm (0.5in) across, on bare branches in mid- to late winter. The petals are short, curled, golden-yellow with brown-red centres.

It is appreciated most in a position where its autumn colour can be seen and its fragrant flowers enjoyed, perhaps close to a house.

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, acid to neutral soil, in full sun or partial shade in a site that is open but not exposed.

Pruning requirements are minimal: remove any crossing shoots so as to maintain a permanent, healthy framework, in late winter or early spring.

Honey fungus and coral spot may be a problem.

Propagation

Sow seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Germination may take a year or more.

Graft cultivars in late winter or bud in late summer.