Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ (Witch Hazel)

🌿 Description

‘Diane’ witch hazel is one of the most admired cultivars, celebrated for its rich copper-red to brick-red ribbon-like flowers that unfurl in late winter when little else is blooming. The lightly fragrant blossoms brighten bare landscapes and are followed by fresh green summer foliage that turns brilliant shades of orange, scarlet, and burgundy in autumn. A true multi-season performer.

Spidery red blossoms in late winter

🌸 Ideal Uses

• Winter garden interest

• Mixed borders with shrubs and small trees

• Woodland or naturalistic gardens

• Near entryways or paths for fragrance appreciation

• As a specimen plant for seasonal drama

• 

  Blooms have yellow tips that darken to orange then red, with a dark center

🌱 Plant Profile

• Type: Deciduous shrub/small tree

• Height & Spread: 8–12 ft tall, 8–12 ft wide

• Flowers: Red to copper-red, ribbon-petaled, lightly fragrant (Jan–Mar in Seattle)

• Foliage: Green, turning vivid red/orange in fall

• Exposure: Full sun to part shade

• Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral

• Hardiness: USDA Zones 5–9

✂️ Maintenance Tips

• Prefers consistent moisture but not waterlogged soils

• Best flowering in full sun, though part shade is tolerated

• Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape (avoid heavy pruning)

• Mulch to conserve soil moisture and protect roots

Glowing yellow fall leaf color

🎨 Design Notes for Witch Hazel 'Diane'

‘Diane’ pairs beautifully with early bulbs (snowdrops, crocus, hellebores) and contrasts well with evergreen backdrops like hollies, camellias, or conifers. Its strong fall color makes it a seasonal anchor in mixed shrub plantings.

🐝 Ecological Notes

• Provides very early nectar for pollinators in late winter

• Birds use its dense branching for cover

⚠️ Cautions

• Roots can be shallow—avoid planting in exposed, windy spots

• Does not tolerate prolonged drought well

Additional Information:

https://www.monrovia.com/diane-witch-hazel.html