Hamamelis intermedia 'Aphrodite' 23cm pot

Hamamelis × intermedia 'Aphrodite'

Named for the Greek goddess, Hamamelis × intermedia 'Aphrodite' is a vigorous, spreading deciduous shrub with a well-earned reputation for its striking winter display. In mid-to-late winter, its bare branches carry large, slightly fragrant flowers with narrow, crimped petals in a warm orange-yellow shading to deeper orange, unfurling on milder days and curling back up to protect themselves against sharp frost. The broadly oval, mid-green leaves add a second show, turning rich yellow in autumn before falling to reveal the shrub's architectural framework.

A large shrub, 'Aphrodite' extends to around 3m in height with a spread of up to 4m over time, so is best suited to larger gardens, mixed borders, or as a specimen in a woodland setting. It grows well in full sun or dappled shade, though too much shade will reduce flowering, in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, acid to neutral soil, in a spot sheltered from strong winds. It tolerates deep, humus-rich soils over chalk, and needs little regular pruning beyond removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches after flowering.

Each plant is hand-selected before dispatch