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Corylus avellana 'Contorta' |
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| Common name |
corkscrew hazel, Harry Lauder's walking stick |
| Family |
betulaceae |
| Life cycle |
shrub (Z4-8) |
| Flowers |
catkins |
| Light |
sun |
| Cultural notes |
ordinary garden soil |
Probably the most famous "contorted" plant. The marvellously twisty branches are particularly interesting in winter, after the leaves have dropped - the catkins remain for quite a while longer. Slow-growing - we've had ours for quite a number of years, and it's still only about 2 foot tall. The straight shoots that sucker up from the base grow much quicker, and must therefore be hacked down regularly.
Japanese beetles like this plant - in fact, they were probably the primary cause of the demise of our specimen. Perhaps we'll grow another one some day, for now the space it occupied in our garden is sadly empty.
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| | The catkins, which form in fall, grow longer and fuzzier in spring |
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This plant used to grow in our garden, but it slipped away... About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Corylus avellana 'Contorta'
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Mike Baker | Apr 10, 2005 | how/when is the best time/way to take cuttings from a harry lauder bush??
Mine was grafted, i.e. not grown by simply rooting a cutting. I don't know much about cuttings and graftings - if anybody else knows, feel free to chime in. |
| erniedfireguy | Jun 22, 2005 | I have a corkscrew hazel growing in the West coast of Canada (vancouver) which is about 10 feet tall and only about 15 years old. It grows much quicker than what everyone says they do. I will take cuttings this fall and see how it goes. Don't forget to use a rooting hormone. |
| margaret johnston | Aug 11, 2005 | hi, my friend fell in love with one of these he saw at a restaurant and i would like to give this to him as a gift. would you suggest buying one that is already growing or start with a seed. where is the best place to go and get one? average price? i live in southern california. please let me know your opinion on this one.
thank you
I don't think you can grow the contorted version from seed - it needs to be vegetatively propagated. Your best bet is a live plant. We got ours from ForestFarm in Oregon, which should be a good source for you as well. |
| Linda Axman | Oct 17, 2005 | Hi! Do you know if there is any chance that corkscrew hazel might be poisonous to pets? I have a budgie who enjoys sitting (and gnawing ) on a dried branch from a corkscrew hazel. I’m a little worried that it could make him ill.
I doubt that it would be poisonous - but I'm hardly an authority... |
| Carolyn White | May 04, 2006 | My corkscrew hazel had a lot of damage last year from the japenese beetle. Any suggestion to help it stay healthy this year? Im in Orefield, pa
Hope for a smaller infestation this year, and keep picking them off. Seriously, I haven't found anything that works. Mine got hit, too. |
| Bryan Sellars | May 24, 2006 | I've grown Hazels by bending a branch down and covering it with soil leaving the tip exposed to grow, after 12 months I have a new plant, don't know how it would work with the corkscrew haxel. |
| acea rokoss | Jul 27, 2006 | i purchased my corkscrew hazel from a reputable dealer, it is aprox.2'tall and the base is 2" dia. with only a few leaves, branches but it is very twisted. so i am hoping to bonsai it as an outdoor/indoor in the winter, does this seem plausable? ultimately i would like it to be no bigger then 3-4', not a typical bonsai but i want to be creative. any comments would be appreciated, i live in okanagan B.C. thank you
I know very little about bonsai - your best bet is to find a bonsai forum (you can find some here) to get input from some subject experts. |
| Sara | Aug 11, 2006 | My hazel tree is about 4 years old and this year something is plaguing it. It had some dead spots that I assumed was from the winter, but branches keep dying and the bark has little splits and inside is black. Does anyone know what this is? I know little about molds or any bug that would do this. |
| VAnessa | Jun 01, 2008 | They sell these at "Armstrong Garden Centers" in Southern California |
| Stephen Puerini | Jun 03, 2008 | I have two dying corylus avellana contorta suffering from eastern hazelnut blight. a qualified arborist attempted some treatment but with no good results. i have already sacrificed one and will replace them both since i love the tree. is there anything i need to do to the soil to prevent disease to the new plants? or, is it sufficient to simply discard the tree and clean the tools? what preventive measures can i take to prevent problems with the new specimens?
thanks
My condolences on your contortas... I have no idea how to prevent recurrence - the arborist who assisted you earlier should be able to provide some help. |
| Diana | Jun 29, 2008 | My corkscrew is about 7 years old and about 4 1/2 feet tall. I regularly cut the straight suckers from the base and it has been thriving for me for about 6 years. This year, though, the top 8-10 inches are completely without leaves. What can be happening? Shall I watch it? Shall I cut the top? I live in Shelton CT.
I'm afraid I don't know - I guess these can be finnicky, based on my own experience. I'd cut back to the healthy part and hope for the best. Your local agricultural extension may be able to provide more specific help. |
| mary ellen marlette | Jul 01, 2008 | My Harry is about 6 years old. Looks great except this past weekend I noticed in the center some dead leaves on one of the branches, it was fine a week ago...I wasn't thinking about beetles till I read the above. Will check that, any other thoughts on what might cause this?? We have had a really rainy summer, but other than that all is about the same. tks |
| pete | Jul 14, 2008 | Actually you don't know very much at all. why should anyone ask you a question.
Thank you for your friendly comment. I never pretend to be an expert horticulturist, but am happy to help when I can. |
| deanne | Jul 28, 2008 | I have 3 corylus avellana contorta which are the focal point in my garden. They spectacular specimens all 10 -12 ft high, 6-8 ft. wide. I cherish these trees because they are my winter attraction. They have thrived for the past 4 years and have been carefully tended, pruned and micro fed. This year all three are dying and I am distraught. Two arborists have examined them and can find no cause. I'm in Chicago in a typical city lot. Any suggestions?
I'm sorry to hear about your hazels' lot. We were sad to see ours give up the ghost too, although our specimen wasn't nearly as large as yours. I'm afraid I have no advice... |
| Harry Lauder 'Walking stick' | Oct 19, 2008 | It appears that the "over tending" to the plants...microfeeding & pruning caused them to give in to the "attention"...Guess "restarting" & letting it be more "hands off" would do the trees better :) |
| Diddy | Oct 29, 2008 | Can this plant be kept indoors?
I've not tried, but I wouldn't recommend it. |
| Helen | Nov 09, 2008 | I have a corylus avellana contorta, and there are a few straight shoots coming up. I was presuming they contort in the second year, but from reading on your page, am I wrong? Should I be cutting them off? Thankyou
Straight shoots from the roots or understock will not contort - they will be more vigorous than the main tree, so it's best to remove them before they grow into the contorted part. |
| Martin Rudman | Jan 07, 2009 | I had 2 contorted hazelnuts when we lived in northern Illinois. We now live in Palm Desert CA (near Palm Springs) which I think is zone 10. It rarely freezes here, but can get to 115 degrees in July & August....Will the contorted hazelnut survive in the desert of S. California?? |
| Ernie | Apr 20, 2009 | I have a corkscrew hazel approx. 12' tall and at least as wide on my front lawn. Never have I fertilzed it (except when the lawn fertilizer spilled over) and only pruned it when it became invasive. This thing grows like a weed! It has totally taken over the initial planting spot to the point where I'm thinking of removing it and selling the branches to a garden center. Whenever any type of blight (once) hit it, I removed the damaged area and it never returned. I live in the Vancouver area, zone 7. I'm going to try cuttings and give them away if I can. |
| Tammy | Apr 20, 2009 | Hey, Ernie! I would love to have one of your cuttings! I am looking for a plant. Does anyone know where I can buy one? |
| Joe | Apr 22, 2009 | I purchased an estate that had the Corylus (Harry), growing on it for about 25 years. It was over 25 feet high and 20 feet wide. I had straight shoots that were over 15 feet high. I cut those. They would make good lodge poles. I didn't pay attention to the garden for a number of years and the straight shoots took over and killed the main tree. (SO CUT THE SUCKERS) I thought for years that this was some exotic tree from Japan. Yesterday Home Depot had 2 examples for sale and I finally found out the proper name, leading me to this Web site. So ends a mystery. |
| Ernie | Apr 23, 2009 | These are available at most garden centers but are rediculously priced. A small 2 footer is on sale at Cedar Rim Nurseries in Langley for $40. Definately remove the suckers, they are not only unsightly but will take over. Tammy, where do you live? |
| Sunshine in Michigan | May 12, 2009 | I too have a Contorted Filbert. I also suffered a bit with the Japanese Beetles last year. To combat them, I went to my local Lowes store and bought some dust powder called "Seven" the stuff worked awesome to guard against the beetles. The only problem with that is the rain. Obviously when it rains, the dust needs to be reapplied. This dust also works well for Basil. They almost completely killed my Basil last year and the seven kept them away. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. If you don't have the money for "Seven", try some warm water mixed in with dish soap in a spray bottle. That seemed to work also. Good luck! |
| Suzanne | May 19, 2009 | I think 'Sunshine' may be referring to Sevin (not Seven), a pesticide that is also used here in Virginia against Japanese beetles. I wouldn't recommend spraying it on food (such as basil) without more research... |
| Keith | May 28, 2009 | I have one small corylus avellana contorta growing in a rather large pot which I was told this would be ok because the tree is a slow grower. The problem I am having is the leaves seem to be very sparse this year. I have applied Holy tone which was recommended. My question is how much fertilizer do you recommend for this potted tree I do not want to burn the roots.
I'd be cautious about fertilizing. This plant does not insist on acid soil; a general slow-release fertilizer, dug into the soil according to package directions, should be just fine. Good luck. |
| Nancy | Jun 04, 2009 | Hello! I recently transplanted a Harry Lauder and it appears the branches are dead as only shoots are coming up (vigorously, I might add)from the base of the trunk. Should I cut these off and hope it will put energy into the beautiful branches?
Thanks very much!
You could try - but to be honest I'm not hopeful that your Harry will return to life, if there are no actively growing leaves on the contorted parts by this time. |
| lulugrows | Jun 09, 2009 | Glad to find your site and to read other comments re: this sculptural wonder! I am researching if I should grow this specimen near Chicago. How long did you have yours for? I love the winter interest of this tree, but what is your opinion of how it looks in mid summer and fall?
While not as starkly architectural, it is still an interesting plant while in full leaf. Ours lasted for about five or six years, I think. |
| Ernie | Jun 14, 2009 | Ours is a mass of leaves. The twisted branches are all but invisible, giving the birds a sanctuary. The Stellar Jays take absolutely every nut this thing produces. I could throw a net over it but that would essentially ruin the entire appearance. It has really taken over the front yard, measuring at least 40 feet in circumference and 15 feet high. |
| michelle | Jul 06, 2009 | I'm in Sarnia Ontario and I just pulled up my four year old cork screw hazel. Very droopy leave and braches drying out and brittle. Poor thing just did this in the last month. Last year it was fine. Didn't notice any bugs or beetles on it. Good root system when I pulled it up. It's a mystery to me???? |
| susan | Jul 19, 2009 | Would anyone ever recommend pruning branches only to encourage more growth of
new branches? I have one two foot horizontal branch with few shoots and I have
concern about the weight of snow upon it in the winter, even its eventual weight
ripping it from the trunk to which its attached.
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| Craig-Utah | Jul 29, 2009 | I live 30 miles west of Salt Lake City--just south of the Great Salt Lake. Summers are hot and dry; winters are are below freezing and very windy. Will these bushes survive the climate? I have an automatic drip irrigation system, so watering isn't a problem. Can they handle the cold winter winds and the dry heat of summer? Thanks!
Craig, I prefer not to give advice for climates that are far afield from mine. Best to ask some local gardeners whether they've grown it. Or maybe somebody else will chime in here. Good luck! |
| Mary, Enid Oklahoma | Oct 01, 2009 | Love your site.....I'm on my 3rd HLW....just love them. I planted the last yesterday. it showed heat stress from summer, but I hope that is only temporary, but it is rather late for planting, so I plant to cover a lot this winter. If love will keep it alive, it will live forever. Mine is in a patio, where I can see it all winter from my easy-chair. I'm looking forward to a loving relationship with my new "Harry" for the rest of my life!!! Don't pay any attention to "Pete"---I think you provide a great service for all to enjoy..... |
| dan - chi burbs | Oct 21, 2009 | Agree, great site. We've had "Harry" (aren't they all named that?)for 3 years and have had nice, albeit slow growth. But, the leaves have been limp and soft each year. Branches and stems are strong - just limp leaves. He's not excessively dry and sits high enough to be fairly well drained. Any thoughts? Thnx |
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common mis-spellings: avellanus
Last modified:
July 21, 2007
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