Cultivate the healing power of witch hazel
Graham Wilson, plant expert from Northampton Garden Centre, with witch hazel plants.
Hamamelis, otherwise known as witch hazel, is a winter flowering shrub, which has frost resistant flowers.
The plant is also well-known for its medicinal uses.
The bark and leaves can be used as an astringent and the extract is often used in lotions to treat acne, bruises, eczema and insect bites. If you want to add some colour and interest to the garden at this time of year it is a good choice and can be under planted with hellebores, snowdrops and other spring flowering bulbs. When you are deciding where to plant witch hazel try to choose a sunny, but sheltered spot, as it has a tendency to become straggly in shaded areas.
It is best to position the plant at the back of borders because it is likely to grow to around three metres tall.
Witch hazel will thrive in most soil conditions apart from shallow soil over chalk or in waterlogged soil.
It is best grown in moist, slightly acidic soil. If the soil in your garden is heavy you will need to improve its condition before planting. This can be done by digging in organic matter. During dry periods, ensure you water the plant especially if it is still establishing itself. Remember that droughts can occur during the winter as well as in the summer, mulching around the root area in late winter or early spring will help to conserve moisture. Witch hazel shouldn’t need much pruning especially if it is left to grow to full size. Just ensure you prune out any dead or damaged wood and remove any congested or crossing shoots. If you do need to control the size of the plant then prune it once it has finished flowering, cutting back the growth to two leaf buds, but try to leave the flower buds, which are more rounded. If you have a small garden, witch hazel can be grown in containers, but it will require more care if you grow it this way. Use an ericaceous or multi-purpose compost and as the plant grows make sure you pot on. The final container will need to be quite large, measuring at least 40 centimetres in depth and width. Make sure the pot has good drainage to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged, but ensure it is never left to dry out. In the summer make sure you move the pot to a cooler spot in the garden. Some varieties of witch hazel to choose from include Hamamelis mollis Wisley Supreme, which produces large, fragrant, yellow flowers. For a variety with lightly scented red blooms try Hamamelis x intermedia Diane. It will also provide interest in autumn when its leaves turn crimson. Hamamelis x intermedia Jelena is an early flowering variety, which produces copper-orange blooms. It has broad green foliage, which turns bright red and orange in autumn.
If you would prefer a plant with large flowers, try Hammamelis x intermedia Aurora. It is an upright variety, which produces pale amber, fragrant blooms in late winter. For more information on how to grow witch hazel, please call Northampton Garden Centre, which is located in Newport Pagnell Road in Northampton, on 765725 or visit www.northamptongardencentre.co.uk.
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