A Winter Treasure

The twisted and contorted branches catch the snow, making a winter wonderland display.

Spectacular twisted branches grow to ten feet.

In summer, it doesn't look very attractive as it droopy leaves hide the curly and twisted stems.

Their serrated leaves undulate and droop.

Immature catkins are not bothered by the January snowfall.

This February scene is framed by the leafless twisted stems of a corkscrew hazel.

Botanical Name:             Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’
Common Names:            Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick,                                                    Corkscrew Hazel
Origin:                             Great Britain
Hardiness Zone:              USDA Zone 4
Plant Type:                      deciduous shrub
Plant Size:                       10 ft x 10 ft
Sun Exposure:                 full sun to partial shade
Soil Preference:              fertile, well drained, alkaline, arid                                              soil tolerant.
Foliage:                           undulating, elliptical serrated                                                    slightly hairy green up to 4" long      
​Flowers:                          drooping catkins late winter, early
                                        spring
Fruit:                                occasional edible hazel nuts 
Pruning:                          winter, remove entire stems or cut                                            back to side branch, don't top!         
Problems:                        blight, canker, blight, rust, web                                                worms, powdery mildew
Notes:                              pull or cut off straight suckers asap 
Uses:                                specimen, accent, food gardens,                                             cut flowers, barrier, border,                                                        foundations
Comments:
The corkscrew hazel often goes unnoticed during the summer with its nondescript leaves, bulky shape and lack of pretty flowers. It’s when the leaves are shed, this contorted and tortured shrub grabs everyone’s attention with its intricately intertwined crooked and twisted branches.
Although their blossoms are not flagrant nor fancy, they are dramatic.  At the dawn of spring, while winter aconite and snowdrops hesitantly peak their little heads up, their pendulous catkins cover the curled and contorted stems.

As a member of the hazel nut family, edible hazelnuts are produced but not in abundance.  Originally it was discovered in England in 1863 and was so named after the Scottish entertainer Sir Harry Lauder who donned a crooked walking stick. 

Commonly grafted onto Corylus americana (American Filbert) it is not unusual for straight non-crooked shoots to emerge from the rootstock of the American Filbert. When this happens, remove them at their base as soon as you see them or they may take over the entire plant. 

When purchasing a Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, look for one that grows on its own roots rather than a grafted specimen so you won’t have the issue of suckers.
​
Make this plant happy by planting it in sun to part shade in a well-draining loamy soil.  Use corkscrew hazel as a specimen plant, for dry, arid areas, as a barrier, as an accent and as an edible ornamental. Add their twisted branches to cut flower arrangements and container plantings.

Their dangling catkin flowers appear in late winter and early spring.

As a member of the filbert family, hazelnuts sometimes form.

Cultivars: 
Red Majestic Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, Corylus avellana contorta ‘Red Majestic’ has even more attributes than its green cousin.  Its undulating, wrinkled foliage emerges as deep purple in the spring.  It matures to a reddish green then in autumn it changes colour once again to an outstanding red.  If you think that is impressive, it’s nothing compared to the stunning burgundy catkins that steal the show in early spring.  Since this cultivar is also grafted, remove any straight and green leaved branches when they appear. ​

The twisted drooping leaves of the Red Majestic corkscrew hazel.

The Red Majestic corkscrew hazel is being overtaken by the green rootstock. All green parts should be removed to restore the red cultivar.