Back to plants
Yellow spider-like flowers of Chinese witch hazel on bare winter branchesShrubs

Hamamelis mollis

Chinese Witch Hazel

witch hazelwinter floweringfragrant plantautumn colourspecimen plant

Chinese Witch Hazel is a remarkable shrub that blooms in the depths of winter with fragrant, spider-like yellow flowers on bare branches. The delicate blooms withstand frost and bring welcome colour to the darkest months. In autumn, the large leaves turn spectacular yellow and orange.

Want to see Chinese Witch Hazel in your garden?

1 minute, no credit card

Start free design
Free design

Want to see Chinese Witch Hazel in your garden? Make a free design now.

Upload a photo, pick a style, and get a photorealistic design with plant list in under a minute.

See your garden free

400+ gardens designed already

No credit card required

Before
After

Characteristics

Sun
Full sun, Partial shade
Water
Medium
Height
200–400 cm
Spread
200–400 cm
Hardiness zone
5–8
Family
Hamamelidaceae
Evergreen
No
Flower colors
yellow
Wildlife value
bees

Bloom period

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Care guide

Plant in sun or partial shade in humus-rich, moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Avoid calcareous soil. Mulch annually with leaf mould. The shrub grows slowly and needs no additional feeding. Shelter from cold, drying winds.

Pruning tips

Prune as little as possible — witch hazel grows slowly and has a naturally attractive shape. Only remove dead or damaged wood immediately after flowering. Never prune during the season to avoid disrupting next year's flower bud formation.

Good companions

Purple lenten rose blooming among evergreen foliage in early springPerennials

Helleborus orientalis

Lenten Rose

The Lenten Rose is one of the first bloomers of the garden year, with saucer-shaped flowers in purple, pink or white appearing as early as February. The evergreen, palmate foliage forms attractive clumps that remain decorative year-round. The plant is a valuable early nectar source for bees.

Partial shadeMedium30–50 cm
White snowdrops emerging through the last snowBulbs & tubers

Galanthus nivalis

Snowdrop

The Snowdrop is one of the very first spring bloomers, often appearing while snow still lies on the ground. The graceful, bell-shaped white flowers hang from slender stems and herald the end of winter. The bulbs multiply rapidly and eventually form beautiful white carpets.

Partial shadeMedium10–15 cm
White star-shaped bracts of Japanese Dogwood in summerShrubs

Cornus kousa

Japanese Dogwood

Japanese Dogwood is an elegant large shrub or small tree with striking white bracts that sit like stars on the branches in June and July. In autumn, raspberry-shaped red fruits appear and the foliage turns deep crimson. The horizontal branching pattern gives the tree year-round character.

Partial shadeMedium300–600 cm