Common Name: Chinese Witch HazelLatin Name: Hamamelis mollisSoil: Moist, well drained; acid or neutralPosition: Full sun to part shade. Flowering period/colour: January to FebruaryHardiness: Hardy in most places in the UK (down to -10°C to -15°C)Height and spread in 10-20 years: 2.5-4m/2.5m-4mSpecial features: Attractively shaped, fragrant, bright yellow flowers in winter on leafless branches. Hamamelis mollis is a large shrub with striking, fragrant, yellow flowers in January and February. The flowers are borne on bare stems, as the plant is deciduous. In summer the shrub is a shapely addition to a border and with attractive green foliage. The great attraction of this shrub is the architecture of the yellow flowers which have long thin strap like petals in a cluster, almost like a small fire on each flower bud. They are most interesting when seen at close range and so that shrub would do well sited by a path that is often used in winter. Hamamelis mollis can be pruned to shape, and used as a hedge, giving it a wide range of uses in garden design. This shrub requires little work to keep it in good condition, so would be very suitable for a low maintenance garden. It prefers and acid or neutral soil and is hardy in most parts of the UK, down to -10°C to -15°C. It grows to 2.5m-4m tall and wide in about 10 to 20 years, and tolerates full sun or partial shade.