Deciduous Tree – Contorted Filbert

Contorted filbert 

Botanical name: corylus avellana ‘contorta’ 

Beginner friendly?: 

Average size at maturity: reaches about 6-10 ft in height and in spread 

Bloom time: late winter – spring 

Hardy zone: zones 4-8 

Flower color: yellow catkins 

Foliage color: green, yellow, red, brown 

Growth rate: grows 6-12 inches per year 

Pruning instructions: remove unwanted growth in the late winter/early spring while the plant is still in dormancy 

Propagation methods: propagate with hardwood cuttings in the fall/winter months or propagate with softwood cuttings in the early summer 

Landscape use: hedge, mixed screening, container plant, patio plant

Light needs: 4-6 hours of sun per day 

Special features: dramatic twisting branches, weeping blooms

Watering instructions: allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering sessions 

Fertilizing instructions : use a slow-release tree and shrub fertilizer once a year in the early spring prior to pruning 

Best time to plant: spring or fall 

Best type of soil: clay or loam 

Companion plants: creeping junipers, japanese forest grass, sedums 

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and pets 

Invasive species: no