Red Dragon Contorted Filbert

Corylus avellana ‘Red Dragon’ PP 20694

Plant Details

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

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-12′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Burgundy-Red

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

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Catkin

Fragrant Flowers: NO

Foliage Color: Deep Burgundy-Maroon

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 deep maroon-purple leaves on twisted corkscrew branches, the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert is guaranteed to please with outstanding form, texture and color. The obovate, wavy leaves hold their color for most of the growing season before dropping in winter to reveal the twisted branches. In late winter clusters of bronze-orange catkins (flowers) emerge hanging in clusters from stem-tips just before the new leaves arrive. Cut stems are exceptionally unique and nice in dried floral arrangements. Red Dragon Contorted Filbert is a must have for the gardener that enjoys unique and interesting plants.

Please Note: Depending on location, climate, sun exposure, and other factors, and as with many red-leaved Japanese maple cultivars, the mature leaves of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert may turn from the purple-red they are throughout spring to a purple to red tinted green or deep green during the summer months. That said, new leaves that emerge during summer will usually be a purplish-red. At our nursery, to better control soil moisture in the pot we keep all contorted filberts in a semi-shaded location. When in more shade, the leaves of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert may be more green during summer than if they were in sun.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert can be grown as a somewhat large shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small tree. It is ideal for use as a focal point specimen or in groupings in landscape borders and home foundation plantings and can also be grown in pots, planters and other containers for use on a patio, deck or around other outdoor living spaces. A fine addition to an Asian garden or red theme color gardens.

Growing Preferences

The Red Dragon 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 ratio 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.

Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop monitors or below on mobile devices.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us!

Timely delivery. Not a leaf out of place.
Very healthy plant. Instructions for planting process helpful.
I have always had a good experience and have received healthy plants. I enjoy the emails of unique plants.——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I was so excited when I got the email that they were in this year! The tree was even larger than I expected, came in excellent condition, and is doing well. It was more than I ever hoped for!———————————–Wow! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The Red Dragon arrived quickly which was good. It looked a bit wilted but came right out of it once planted and is doing well. Glad to have found this plant at a reasonable price..———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I am so happy to receive my beautiful Contorted Filbert! I have been looking for one for a while! Great service! I will definitely be ordering more plants from Wilson Bros Gardens??——————————One of my favorites! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I had my heart set on a Red Dragon since we moved out of state and had to leave behind our beloved “Twisted Sister”. It is a VERY hard plant to find – always either out of stock or prohibitively expensive. Wilson Bros. was also out, but said they’d notify me when available. Lo & behold, they wrote as soon as it was in. I jumped on it! TWO DAYS later, it arrived – and what a plant! Gorgeous! Much bigger and more beautiful than I could have expected. It’s planted in its new home now and is happy as can be. And so am I! I couldn’t be happier. Wilson Bros. has a new customer for life with me – they are The Best! Thank you SO much!———————————————–You’re so very welcome! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The tree came at the perfect time for me! Packaged very well. It’s dormant right now, but I have no doubt it will leaf out and be beautiful next spring! I put it near the house so I can see it all the time. It’s very squiggly!!——————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This is a cute filbert I’ve been looking for to go with my So Contorted. Gallon size pot at the size plant I expected. Little expensive but you pay for what you can’t find elsewhere. Thank you for my plant.—————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

As a many year google guide i’d love to in this instance, and actually really appreciate the opportunity. I know alot of folks dont take the time to offer replies, much less reviews unless they are complaining, so im happy to do so. Right off the bat, the wording and phrasing of this email is spot on. im a tail end gen x’r, and whoever wrote the email, should be commended. The phrasing has just enough to resonate as “in touch”, but not so much to put off the elderly population, so, in my opinion, well done. im not saying give he/she a raise, but yeah, buy ’em a beer. or 3. i hope my reply is sufficient, and i will leave positive feedback soon. so far, youve already gained at least 2 new repeat customers. well done folks.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

It’s difficult to find an affordably-sized Harry Lauder Red Dragon, so I was really happy when I found it on Wilson Bros! Shipment arrived safely and fast, and the plant is a good size, healthy, and doing well. Thank you for carrying interesting specimens and for great service as well.——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I am so happy to have found Wilson brothers. This was my third purchase this year. Each plant has arrived packed perfectly and ready to plant. They have unusual and very hard to find plants and trees for your garden. I will buy from them exclusively in the future.———————————Thanks so much for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG 🙂

I had one of these interesting trees at my previous address. After searching online, I discovered that Wilson Brothers carried this hard to find specimen.
It arrived safely, in less than 2 weeks, being healthy, well-packaged, and well watered. New growth noticed already.
I give this company 5 stars. I will buy from them again, as well as recommending them to my friends.———————————————————————-Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

Shipping was good, plant was in great shape when it arrived.. looks healthy could not ask for more !!————————————————–We are so happy you are pleased with your purchase! Beth | WBG

I was worried when the delivery service failed to deliver on time but I messaged their company and they assured me it would be okay, they were correct! It has been planted now a couple of weeks and it is growing beautifully! Thank you!————————We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

From ordering to delivery, my experience with Wilson Bros Gardens was very positive. The communication emails regarding the order and the delivery were timely and well done. The contorted filbert arrived within the scheduled time frame and in great condition thanks to the impressive packaging job.. I found the detailed instructions for planting and care extremely helpful. Well done!———————————Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

One gallon tree arrived in a timely fashion as well as being secure in some pretty cool packaging !……planted in early spring to replace my 35 year old “walking stick “, different location though…….this tree looks pretty good BUT does show some signs of stress, several usual dried leave edges , New potting soil was used with great drainage …… As you know, sometimes these guys just need time to adjust to their “new home “ , I hope he/she does !——————————-You are right, they sometimes need a little time get established, we are glad you are pleased, and we hope it does well! Let us know! Beth | WBG

I’ve been looking for a Red Dragon ever since I lost my beloved contorted filbert two years ago. There were none to be found, and sites that had pre-orders in them were asking hundreds of dollars. I found this one and ordered immediately. It arrived within a few days, very well packaged and in good health. I planted it right away, as the weather and season were right and it seems to have survived just fine. We’ve just had our first snow, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting spring to see those beautiful red leaves unfolding.—————————————Hi Cathy, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. We are so glad we had one for you and happy you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Received plant in great shape. Very happy with purchase!——————————————Hi Sarolta, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

1 Gallon Container Red Dragon Contorted Filbert Tree – 5 Stars!————————Hi Donna, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I received the replacement plant with no issues. It was tightly packed and in good condition.
I really don’t know what happened with the original shipment, especially as my neighbor received and opened it for me. I worked in the wholesale nursery industry for many years and my best guess is a weak graft. That was where the break in the stem occurred, and that point was where the cardboard brace was holding the plant in the box. Not your fault, not the shippers fault.
I greatly appreciate the prompt replacement. With my background, I can be particular about plant varieties and plant quality and Wilson Brothers has met my expectations. Your customer service exceeds them. Thank you.———————————————Hi Todd, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. So sorry about the first shipment, but we are so glad you are pleased with the replacement and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

After failing to find a plant in this area I decided to take a chance and order online. I am glad I did. Fast delivery and impressive packaging. It is doing well and I was pleased with the online guide to planting. I look forward to watching it grow.————————-WBG Reply: Hi Aroha, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Tree arrived in great condition, very securely packed and bigger than expected. This was my first purchase from Wilson Bros. and it will definitely not be my last.—————————–WBG Reply: Hi Becky, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Bought a Red Dragon from Wilson Bros. and was pleased with what a nice size it was, and how well it was packed. It arrived happy and safe! I will buy from these guys again!———————————-WBG Reply: Hi Sue, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I ordered this being very sceptical about what I would receive. The box arrived, very well packed, and the plant was healthy and beautiful! Bigger than I thought. I put it in the ground right away…..for it’s now cold here. We’ll see in the spring! I’m very optimistic. Great variety of unique plants. I’m running out of room!—————-WBG Reply: Hi Drew, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert, we are glad you are pleased. You’re right it’s a very unique plant and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele-Marketing Communications Director

Very healthy plant, ready for the flowerbed. Shipped quickly! ———————— WBG Reply: Hi Brian – Thanks so much for your review of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert. We hope you enjoy it for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

I recently purchased a Red Dragon Contorted Filbert-Corylus from Wilson Bros Gardens and am extremely pleased. I was searching the internet for this tree and every site that I went to was in the $200.00-$300.00 range and I was not going to pay that. I ordered this tree and when it arrived it was a good size, about 32 inches or so and VERY healthy! I planted it and it is already growing great! I would definitely order from them again in the future! ——— WBG Reply: Hi Jolene – Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review. This is a beautiful and sometimes hard-to-find plant, but I don’t blame you at all for not wanting to pay several hundred dollars for one…especially when we offer good-size specimens at a more reasonable price:-) Glad to hear yours is already growing great. Hope you enjoy this rare beauty for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. Plant long and prosper! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens