Harry Lauder's Walking Stick Corylus avellana 'Contorta'
ABOUT
The plant known as Harry Lauder's walking stick is famed for its distinctive and eye-catching structure. This plant has a unique feature where branches and twigs twist and contort in unexpected directions, creating a sinuous and spiraling effect that resembles corkscrews. The bark on these twisted branches has a rough texture which is more noticeable in the winter when the leaves have fallen. During wintertime, the absence of foliage makes the intricate patterns of the bare branches particularly striking against the landscape. In the spring, the plant gives way to long, yellowish catkins which stand out against the still-bare branches, giving it a decorative appeal. When the leaves emerge, they are a vibrant green and have a slightly crinkled appearance, which complements the contorted form of the branches. As the seasons change, the leaves transform into a golden yellow hue in the fall, providing a lovely contrast with the darker branches. Overall, Harry Lauder's walking stick is prized for its ornamental value due to its unusual silhouette and seasonal changes in leaf color, making it a focal point in many gardens.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Betulaceae.
Synonyms
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, Contorted Filbert, Corkscrew Hazel, Twisted Hazel.
Common names
Corylus avellana 'Contorta'.
ToxicityTo humans
The plant known as Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is not considered toxic to humans. There are no significant toxic effects reported from ingesting any part of this plant.
To pets
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is also not considered toxic to pets. It is unlikely to cause any significant symptoms of poisoning if pets chew on or ingest parts of this plant.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Yellow
Height
10 feet (3 meters)
Spread
8 feet (2.4 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental Interest: Corylus avellana 'Contorta', commonly known as Harry Lauder's walking stick, offers unique, twisted branches that provide visual interest during winter when other plants are dormant.
- Attracts Wildlife: The nuts produced are a food source for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife, enhancing biodiversity in the garden.
- Shade Provider: During the summer, its foliage offers a canopy of shade in garden landscapes.
- Seasonal Interest: It has catkins in late winter to early spring, giving it multi-seasonal appeal.
- Edible Nuts: Produces hazelnuts that, while smaller and less abundant than other commercial varieties, are edible and can be used in cooking.
- Easy Maintenance: It is relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain its shape and remove any dead wood.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it exhibits some level of drought tolerance, reducing the need for regular watering.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Crafts and Woodworking: The twisted branches of Harry Lauder's walking stick are often used in woodworking and crafting for their unique shapes, creating one-of-a-kind pieces like walking sticks, furniture accents, or decorative frames.
- Floral Arrangements: The unusual twisted branches can add a dramatic effect to floral arrangements, providing structure and interest to both fresh and dried displays.
- Garden Sculptures: The contorted form of the branches can be trained or grafted to form living sculptures in the garden, offering year-round visual interest.
- Photography: The distinctive form of Harry Lauder's walking stick makes it a popular subject for photographers looking to capture the intricate patterns of nature.
- Educational Tool: The plant is sometimes used by educators to demonstrate the range of genetic diversity in plant forms, especially the occurrence of natural mutations.
- Winter Interest: With its twisted branches, Harry Lauder's walking stick provides winter interest in gardens that lack color during the colder months.
- Habitat Creation: Though not its primary feature, this plant can offer shelter to birds and small animals within the twists and turns of its branches.
- Privacy Screening: When planted in a row, these bushes can form a unique, albeit open, privacy screen due to their dense foliage.
- Theme Gardens: Harry Lauder's walking stick is an excellent addition to whimsical or fairy tale-themed gardens where its unusual shape contributes to the magical feel.
- Bonsai: Some enthusiasts use Harry Lauder's walking stick for bonsai due to its naturally contorted growth habit, making for an interesting and challenging project.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Protection: The plant is also known as Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, which is a twisted and contorted hazelnut tree. In ancient times, hazel wood was considered powerful and often used to make talismans thought to offer protection.
- Wisdom: Hazel trees are often linked to wisdom and knowledge. This association comes from ancient Celtic mythology, where hazelnuts were revered as symbols of enlightenment and inspiration.
- Fertility: In some traditions, hazel trees are believed to symbolize fertility due to their prolific production of nuts which can signify abundance and the promise of new life.
- Reconciliation: Hazelnuts have a history of being used as a gift to symbolize peace and to resolve differences, representing the plant’s role in reconciliation.
WaterHarry Lauder's Walking Stick should be watered deeply and thoroughly, ensuring that the soil around the plant is moist but not waterlogged. During the growing season, watering should be done once or twice weekly, depending on the weather conditions, with about one to two gallons of water per session. In winter, reduce watering to when the soil appears dry since the plant requires less moisture during dormancy. It is important not to overwater as this can lead to root rot.
LightHarry Lauder's Walking Stick prefers full sun to partial shade conditions. The best spot for this plant would be a location where it receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight a day, although it can tolerate some light shade, especially in hotter climates.
TemperatureHarry Lauder's Walking Stick thrives in a range of temperatures but prefers a moderate climate. It can tolerate winter cold, surviving temperatures as low as 20°F, but the ideal growing conditions are between 65°F and 75°F during the day. It's important to avoid placing it in areas where temperatures may exceed 85°F, as extreme heat can be damaging.
PruningHarry Lauder's Walking Stick should be pruned to maintain its shape and remove any dead or damaged wood. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Pruning can be done annually or biennially, depending on the plant's growth and the desired shape. Careful pruning also encourages more of the distinctive contorted branches for which the plant is celebrated.
CleaningAs needed
SoilHarry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') thrives best in well-draining, loamy soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. A good soil mix for this plant would include two parts loam, one part sand, and one part organic compost to ensure proper drainage and nutrition.
RepottingHarry Lauder's Walking Stick doesn't require frequent repotting as it is typically grown outdoors. If grown in a container, repotting every 3-5 years or when it becomes root-bound is adequate, ensuring to use soil with the described characteristics.
Humidity & MistingHarry Lauder's Walking Stick is adaptable to a variety of outdoor humidity levels and does not have strict humidity requirements. It typically thrives in the ambient outdoor humidity within its growing zones.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Not ideal for indoor growth; requires ample space, full sun.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil.
Hardiness zone
4-8 USDA
Life cycleHarry Lauder's walking stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') begins its life cycle once the seed, typically a nut, germinates in the soil. The germinated seed develops into a seedling with characteristic contorted branches, which becomes more pronounced as the plant grows. As it matures, the plant will go through a vegetative stage, producing large, green leaves and developing a strong root system. After a few years, it will enter the reproductive phase, flowering in late winter to early spring before the leaves emerge, with male catkins and small female flowers on the same plant. If pollination occurs, the female flowers will develop into the edible nuts familiar to this species. In autumn, the leaves will turn yellow and drop before the plant goes into dormancy for the winter, repeating the cycle in the spring.
PropogationPropogation time
Late winter to early spring
The most popular method to propagate Harry Lauder's walking stick, which is the common name for Corylus avellana 'Contorta', is through hardwood cuttings. This should be done during the dormant season, typically in late fall to early winter. One must select a healthy, straight stem that is at least one year old and cut a section about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) long. After cutting, the bottom end of the cutting should be dipped in rooting hormone to stimulate root growth. The cutting is then planted in a well-draining potting mix or directly into the ground where it is intended to grow, ensuring that a few nodes where leaves attach are buried as these are the points from which roots are most likely to sprout. The soil around the cutting must be kept moist until roots have developed, which may take several months.
![Silver birch [Fastigiata Joes]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fplants-admin.emdemapps.com%2Fimages%2Fplants%2F%2Fimages%2F604b6438424d4.png&w=640&q=75)