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Xela's Garden

Corkscrew Hazel

Genus: Corylus.

Species: Corylus avellana.

Planted '96? Arbor Low
transplanted Oct '00 Vistabile front left lawn bed

Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

Plant type: Shrub
Habit: Bushy
Resilience / Hardiness: H4 (hardy)
Colour:
Flower - Yellow in Spring and Winter
Foliage - Green in Spring and Summer
Yellow in Autumn
Size:
Ultimate height - 2.5-4 metres
Ultimate spread - 2.5-4 metres
Time to ultimate height: 10-20 years

Preferred common name: corkscrew hazel
Family: Betulaceae

Corylus are deciduous trees and large shrubs with broad leaves, and showy male catkins in early spring, followed by edible nuts

'Contorta' is a large deciduous shrub with highly contorted and twisted branches bearing broadly ovate leaves and pendent yellow male catkins in late winter and early spring; useful for winter flower arrangements

Other common names: Harry Lauder's walking stick

How to grow:
Sunlight: Full sun, Part shade

Aspect: South-facing, North-facing, West-facing or East-facing
Exposed or Sheltered

Cultivation:
Grows well in chalky soil in sun or partial shade
Soil: Well-drained or Moist but well-drained
Alkaline or Neutral
Chalk, Clay, Sand or Loam

Propagation:
Propagate by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife Gardens or Architectural

How to care:

Pruning
lightly prune in late winter or early spring.... No routine pruning necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested or crossing shoots. Shoots that are growing in unwanted directions can also be pruned out.
After pruning, mulch and feed.

Pests: Can get caterpillars, gall mites, aphids and sawflies; squirrels eat the nuts
Diseases: Generally disease free

Photos of this plant

  • Contortedhazelvistabilefrontlawn20.11.08
  • Cotortedhazelvistabilesnowyfrontgarden.09.02.02
  • Contortedhazelinsnowyvistabilefrontgarden2012feb05

Reminders for this plant

Due about 11 years ago:

Prune

in Feb or March, no routine pruning necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested or crossing shoots. Shoots that are growing in unwanted directions can also be pruned out.

Feed & mulch

After pruning, mulch and feed.