There are always plants which designers use more than others – those which they know work well, how they partner up or simply just adore. One that is always on our adore list is the beautiful Witch Hazel family, or to give them their proper name, the Hamamelis.

As we mentioned in another recent post, the winter garden can be pretty bleak and bare, but there are a few plants which can be utilised for their beautiful structures and scents.

In our opinion, the witch hazel falls nicely into both the stately shape and great scent boxes.

Coming in a smattering of varieties in reds, through oranges to yellows, each bloom seems to cling to the bare branches like dripping wet spiders trying to dry out. Their scent is sweet and the branches can be brought into the house to offer winter scent, but in all honesty we would rather appreciate their beautiful shapes in the semi shady parts of a garden, with something dark behind them to offset their flowers.

And whatever you do, do not crowd a Hamamelis. They look best as solo dancers.

And our favourites? Well, we love the reds, so Ruby Glow (above), Diane and maybe some hot orange of Jelena. Lovely.

(image via RHS)