Hamamelis intermedia Aurora - Witch Hazel

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Aurora', also known as the Witch Hazel, is a variety with fairly large flowers, reaching up to 4 cm. They appear in late winter and are a beautiful bright yellow with an orange base. Of medium growth, it forms over time a beautiful bush with a spreading habit and dark green leaves. In autumn, this deciduous plant displays magnificent warm shades of yellow, orange, and red. Hamamelis does not like too much direct sunlight or drought; it grows well in neutral to acidic soil, remaining moist during summer. One of the best shrubs for autumn and late winter, it can be planted in groups or as a standalone plant.

Hamamelis x intermedia is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding between Hamamelis japonica and H. mollis, originating respectively from Japan and China. These plants belong to the hamamelidaceae family, which also includes Loropetalum, Liquidambars, and Persian Ironwood, which invariably display fantastic autumn foliage colours.
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Aurora' is a horticultural variety obtained in 1985 by Jan van Hejningen, an expert in Hamamelis, who is responsible for at least 7 varieties, all starting with the letter A. His creation 'Aurora' received an "Award of Garden Merit" in 2005 from the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society RHS) in England for its numerous qualities.
This variety is remarkable for its flowers, probably the largest of the species, as they can reach up to 4 cm (1.6 in) in length. Consisting of thin graceful filaments, they are yellow with an orange base and appear in February, before the leaves. They are slightly fragrant and have a characteristic shape resembling spiders or witch claws, hence the common name Witch Hazel. This beautiful flowering lasts for 6 to 8 weeks followed by dark green leaves. Slightly obovate (widening towards the tip, opposite the petiole), their colour and texture, rather than their shape resembling that of Hazel. In autumn, they turn warm colours ranging from yellow to orange then scarlet red. It is undoubtedly one of the best shrubs for autumn colour!
'Aurora' has a medium growth, reaching approximately 3 to 3.50 m (9 ft 10 in to 11 ft 6 in) in all directions after 10 years or more. It has a spreading habit, forming a few main branches that bear secondary lateral branches spreading almost horizontally (slightly V-shaped). The branches of Hamamelis are somewhat fragile, so it is best to avoid walking too close to them to avoid breaking them. If planting them in groups, it is best to place low-growing plants around them that will not hinder their spread. Very hardy (approximately -25°C (-13 °F)), Hamamelis is quite demanding in terms of its growing conditions. Once the right location is found, it proves to be a robust and virtually maintenance-free plant (no pruning required).

Plant this Hamamelis intermedia 'Aurora' at the edge of a woodland, on the edge of a grove of large trees, or in a group, in the company of shrubs with similar requirements, such as the lovely small Hydrangea serrata Avelroz, a Hydrangea with beautiful green foliage turning purple during the season with bright pink flowering in June-July. To accompany the winter flowering of 'Aurora', you can associate it with a Sarcococca hookeriana Digyna, a small shrub with narrow evergreen leaves and delicately scented white flowers, or a Daphne odora Marianni, with variegated yellow-green foliage and lightly scented pink flowers. And for the edges of your group, opt for a carpet of Hellebore by combining varieties with different flower colours.