Plant of the Week: Witch Hazel

Most people are familiar with witch hazel because of its use in skin care products. Witch hazel is also considered a must-have shrub for fragrance and color in the winter garden. It is a large shrub that is noteworthy for being one of the last shrubs to flower. At a time when few plants are blooming, witch hazel adds sparkle to the landscape with bunches of yellow to cream flowers. The four narrow, crinkled petals create a delicate, spidery appearance on the bare branches.Witch hazel can be grown as a single or multi-stemmed shrub, reaching 12 to 20 feet high. It's form is vase-shaped, usually spreading 10 to 15 feet wide. Witch hazel can be planted in a mixed shrub border or used for height in the back of a perennial border. It is great as a transitional plant between tended gardens and wilder natural areas. It has high wildlife value, providing seeds for birds, rabbits and deer. While this plant is not deer resistant, it has evolved along side deer and browsing won't harm the plant, but can actually create a fuller shrub.