Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 8-10′, maybe a little taller over time

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Yellow, Light Yellow, Bronze

Flower Size: Medium, 1/4″ wide x 1-2″ long

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Catkin

Fragrant Flowers: N0

Foliage Color: Dark Green, Bronze

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5 (Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low when left in it’s natural form

Attracts: Birds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Heat, Insect (Excluding Japanese Beetles), Filbert Blight

Description

With its twisted, corkscrew branches and stems, Contorted Filbert, also known as Henry or Harry Lauder Walking Stick, is guaranteed to draw attention in the garden. The branches of this large shrub or small tree to 8 to 10 feet tall and wide are especially attractive in the landscape during winter, when there are no leaves on the plant. Before new leaves emerge in spring interesting and colorful yellow catkins hang in clusters from the tips of stems. The obovate leaves feature double toothed margins and are green for most of the growing season turning yellow in the fall. Branches can be cut for use as an accent in indoor floral arrangements. Contorted Filbert is a must have for the gardener that enjoys unique and interesting plants!

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 10 feet tall and wide, and maybe a little larger over time, the Henry Lauder Walking Stick Contorted Filbert is perfect for use as a focal point specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. It can be grown as a large shrub or lower branches can be removed to form an attractive small tree. It can also be grown in pots, planters and other containers and situated on a patio, deck or around other outdoor living spaces. A fine addition to an Asian gardens, gothic gardens, and rock gardens.

Growing Preferences

Contorted Filbert prefers a moist but well drained slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil and full sun to part shade. When planting in heavy clay soil it’s a good idea to amend the native soil at a 50/50 ration with a sandy, bagged top soil to ensure good drainage. We suggest a minimum of 4 hours direct sunlight per day during spring, summer and fall.

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