First flower to open.

Do you find the flowers of this show up at a distance; I planted 'Pallida' (pale yellow flowers) against a dark background for this reason. I guess a blue-grey conifer would make a suitable background to this one or any of the orange-flowered varieties

ha-ha! it's opened! looks great spritz! - much brighter colour than mine! mine is up against a dark green fence and it catches your eye from the patio or house. but i don't have a huge garden so it is'nt that far away anyway.

Andrew, you are quite right about it needing a lighter backgound to show it off. As it is against a grey wall, I might have to grow a light variegated ivy up behind it, I think. I shall wait until it's full out and have another think. It's beautiful close up, though!

it's a Hamamelis, Marguerite. The background is an old stone wall with ivy on it!

In winter through into very early spring. It's a shrub, really. It will grow to about 8'. You can get various colours ranging from pale yellow, orange through to red. A great thrill when the flowers open.