Witch Hazels

Once discovered, witch hazels capture the hearts of gardeners who rank them among the best of all winter-flowering shrubs. Shrugging off several degrees of frost and a heavy weight of snow, their distinctive flowers held on bare branches cannot fail to light up a garden in the depths of winter. Yet, despite their attributes, only a small number are widely grown outside the gardens of enthusiasts. This book promises to change all that by turning the spotlight onto these magical shrubs highlighting their diversity and providing practical, comparative information that will thrill enthusiast and newcomer alike.The book starts with an introduction to the genus followed by detailed descriptions of the four species and their hybrids. These will be of immense value to gardeners as they weigh up distinguishing features and work out which will perform best for them. The book further aids identification by noting how local conditions, soil and weather extremes can significantly affect plant characteristics including rate of growth, size of plant, leaf retention and flower colour. Cultural requirements and hardiness tolerance are clearly outlined further ensuring success in the garden.This is the first attempt to authenticate and describe all known selections, varieties and species in one text. Chris Lane has collected and grown witch hazels over a long period of time observing and noting their characteristics. His personal research along with that of enthusiasts from all over the world has been brought together in this long-awaited authority that will enthrall gardeners and collectors for years to come.