In warm winters, witch hazel really will bloom in January. Many serious gardeners I know say they would never have a garden without it.

Even in cold, snowy winters, witch hazel can be counted on for blooms by mid-February or early March.

This common shrub with wispy spidery flowers in a range of citrus colors from yellow to apricot-red often grows to the height of a small tree.

Here’s one I shot at the NY Botanical Garden a couple of weeks ago.

This one seems to have held onto its leaves.

Aren’t the flowers wonderful?

Known botanically as Hamamelis, witch hazel doesn’t like a windy site, but it tolerates a wide range of light conditions. Like flowering dogwoods, these versatile deer-resistant shrubs make a good understory plant near oaks, beeches, pines and maples. They also do well along a stream or around the edges of woodland sites.

In a suburban yard, plant them where you can see them up close, perhaps near the garage or outside the back door.

Here’s another variety, ‘Barmstedt Gold,’ also at NYBG, in the home gardening area.

After the blooms fade in spring, interesting 3- to 4-inch green leaves with scalloped edges emerge all along the brownish-gray branches. In fall, they turn a gorgeous yellow that lights up the landscape.

Plant them in rich organic soil and keep them well watered the first year or two. In general, they don’t need much pruning.

Witch hazel looks particularly good with early-blooming bulbs such as snowdrops, winter aconite and crocus.