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I am always on the lookout for interesting or different plants and shrubs, and when I come across one that has great winter appeal I try to file the information away for future reference. Most of our planting is done more with the growing season in mind, but the winter garden can be interesting in its own way. Shrubs with great shapes, bark color and sometimes winter berries, can add immensely to the look of the landscape, especially if snow is partly covering them.
Hamamelis x intermedia is an excellent choice for adding to your fall and winter scene. This hybrid is a cross between Hamamelis japonica [Japanese Witchhazel] and Hamamelis mollis [Chinese Witchhazel].It has soft yellow to bronzy red fragrant flowers that occur in clusters of strap-shaped slightly twisted petals from January to March, depending on the cultivar. The flowers usually last for at least a month and seem impervious to the vagaries of the winter weather. In summer the foliage is a lovely blue-green, but in fall, the foliage develops intense yellow to deep red tints. These shrubs do best in organic-laden, moist and well-drained soils, but are adaptable to acidic and alkaline soils. It loves the full sun, but will produce in a partial shade also. They are great for that special spot in the garden where you can enjoy them from a window view; or for a shrub border in clusters or combined with other showy specimens. Grows 10 to 20 feet high and does well in zones 5 to 8.
There are a number of great cultivars and varieties to choose from, ranging from broad-spreading to upright vase shaped. 'Arnold Promise' is very popular, with bright yellow fragrant flowers that appear in February and March. Fall color is a rich yellow to orange-apricot.
'Diane' is a deep bronzy red with a medium spreading habit.
'Jelena' is a great favorite with its strong horizontal habit and coppery colored, fragrant flowers and orange-red fall color.
'Pallida' is early flowering with soft sulfur-yellow intensely fragrant flowers. A little smaller shrub at maturity, and so perhaps better suited to smaller gardens.
'Ruby Glow' has bronze-red flowers and has a vigorous upright spreading habit.
The fact that these are fairly adaptable and easy to grow and maintain, make them a great addition to any garden. If you're looking for something to add to your winter scene then any of these cultivars will do a fine job.
Lindi Karmason for Lake Country Gardens
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