Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

[ConorDash]

Well check out this sorry old sod!

DSC_0375 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

DSC_0374 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

The parts cut off all died, including the branch above which I loved for its bend and damage.
Oh well, things happen. Now I have this and at least for this year, ill be letting it grow. I dont know what problem caused the death of most of it, potentially vine weevil. Its not been repotted but I have lifted it a number of times to check on root conditions and bugs, from initial inspection, it looks ok but I can't be sure of course. I have purchased and will be using an insecticide for vine weevil (way too late on this one however, Bobby recommended it ages ago).

For now, just grow and live on.. Ill post pics later in the season and see about pruning and styling for coming season. Its still got a great little trunk with movement and character, this will be a good looking tree one day

Until then, i have his younger brothers to play with:
DSC_0373 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

 

[Cattwooduk]

I think these guys tend to drop branches over winter fairly easily, I don't think vine weevil would necessarily cause it though. If you lift it out the pot you'd probably notice weevil activity as well, the grubs are hard to miss and usually work from the outside towards the middle. Eventually the plant will become loose in the pot but even at that point it will be growing new roots to try and survive. I bulk buy and plant heucheras every year and the first year I lost LOADS to vine weevil larvae, they seem to love heaucheras especially. Every time I buy them now I treat them all as soon as I buy them and it's definitely reduced losses.

 

[ConorDash]

I think these guys tend to drop branches over winter fairly easily, I don't think vine weevil would necessarily cause it though. If you lift it out the pot you'd probably notice weevil activity as well, the grubs are hard to miss and usually work from the outside towards the middle. Eventually the plant will become loose in the pot but even at that point it will be growing new roots to try and survive. I bulk buy and plant heucheras every year and the first year I lost LOADS to vine weevil larvae, they seem to love heaucheras especially. Every time I buy them now I treat them all as soon as I buy them and it's definitely reduced losses.

Ah ok. Well this guy lost those branches before winter and they were bigsolid branches, 3-4+ years old.
Well I’ve never seen vine weevil activity but I’d like to think I’d see something.. looks ok so far.
Well not much I can do but hope for now. Hopefully it’ll regain strength this season. It’s been in that same pot, same roots, should have some real vigor stored and ready to use.

I’ve got 2 small ones now, experimenting with. I do love the species.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Well check out this sorry old sod!

Make sure you remove that sucker growth, or it will weaken your main trunk. It is interesting to see how much more yours has budded out right now than mine... which is just starting to bud.

 

[coh]

I bought one of these last fall at an end of season sale. It may wind up in the yard (one can only have so many projects) but I need to pull it out of the nursery container and see what the base looks like. It's been in "bloom" for a couple of weeks - man they produce a lot of pollen! Like a pine.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I do love the species.

A bit of trivia... it isn't a species, it's a cultivar. And it isn't just any cultivar - it is from a single contorted specimen that was recognized and pulled from a hedge in the UK. Every single "Harry Lauder's Walking Stick" is from that one single plant. When you think how many individual plants are out there, and how broadly they are available around the world, it is a little mind-boggling.

Mother Nature is probably wondering - I gave this one plant a recessive gene that should have killed it off... but instead it is thriving everywhere!

 

[ConorDash]

A bit of trivia... it isn't a species, it's a cultivar. And it isn't just any cultivar - it is from a single contorted specimen that was recognized and pulled from a hedge in the UK. Every single "Harry Lauder's Walking Stick" is from that one single plant. When you think how many individual plants are out there, and how broadly they are available around the world, it is a little mind-boggling.

Mother Nature is probably wondering - I gave this one plant a recessive gene that should have killed it off... but instead it is thriving everywhere!

Wow that is amazing.

In terms of the sucker? If it is genuinely coming from the actual trunk, I thought it’s best left in order to provide more solar panels to feed the tree?

 

[penumbra]

Don't take me wrong here, I love these plants as an oddity, but hate them as a bonsai. That does not keep me from displaying mine near my bonsai bench.

 

[ConorDash]

A bit of trivia... it isn't a species, it's a cultivar. And it isn't just any cultivar - it is from a single contorted specimen that was recognized and pulled from a hedge in the UK. Every single "Harry Lauder's Walking Stick" is from that one single plant. When you think how many individual plants are out there, and how broadly they are available around the world, it is a little mind-boggling.

Mother Nature is probably wondering - I gave this one plant a recessive gene that should have killed it off... but instead it is thriving everywhere!

Actually perhaps I’ve answered my own question.. I went to remove the sucker in question, the other one is coming from the trunk so I left it however, it’s straight... as was the other.

So perhaps a sucker is the straight growth, everything is not and can be kept?

The straight growth sure does grow thick and fast! The contorta growth is super slow

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The straight growth sure does grow thick and fast! The contorta growth is super slow

I have one that is cutting grown. Many are not cuttings, but are grafts. If you get a grafted tree, it is likely that the root stock will be more robust than the contorted scion. Therefore, keep a lookout for sucker growth, which may actually be the root stock throwing out a branch. If you let it run, you may find that the suckers grow so strongly that in a couple of years the main trunk dies off while the suckers take over. Note how on your suckers the growth is not contorted, and the leaves are much larger and flatter? It all depends where the graft line is... any growth below that line should be removed as soon as it sprouts.

 

[penumbra]

I had been meaning to post this picture of my contorted filbert with contorted suckers. In the landscape these plants have always been an issue because the suckers are not contorted and can take over and even kill the plant. I never inteded this as a bonsai as I think they only look good when naked, but I will have to consider these contorted suckers during late winter potting.

 

[ConorDash]

I had been meaning to post this picture of my contorted filbert with contorted suckers. In the landscape these plants have always been an issue because the suckers are not contorted and can take over and even kill the plant. I never inteded this as a bonsai as I think they only look good when naked, but I will have to consider these contorted View attachment 277102suckers during late winter potting.

oh wow. I get suckers (although haven’t had any in all 3 of mine this year.... that’s odd) but that’s ridiculous!! And yeah yours looks to be 100% contorta. Perhaps it was air layered previously, off the root stock.
I’m fine with mind having that root stock, as Bonsai Nut says, it’s probably a stronger base so I’m fine with that.

my large one, the one that started this thread had a lot of die Back and lost a lot of years of growth so I’ve not touched it all year. It’s done well.

I think this coming spring I’m going to be doing proper work on all 3. 2 need repotting. This one is currently in a huge landscape pot so I’ll probably move to a large training pot. It won’t hinder the growth rate, it’ll be enough room.. + it needs repotting. After that huge die back I’ve never trusted it’s nursery soil (I’ve treated it for vine weevil) and it’s been in that pot now for a few years. At least since I’ve had it. Repot and heavy prune, then leave for theyear..

ive got a big spring coming up!! I can’t wait. Honestly.

 

[ConorDash]

I had been meaning to post this picture of my contorted filbert with contorted suckers. In the landscape these plants have always been an issue because the suckers are not contorted and can take over and even kill the plant. I never inteded this as a bonsai as I think they only look good when naked, but I will have to consider these contorted View attachment 277102suckers during late winter potting.

looking good naked is exactly why we want this tree and species!! Winter image, those catkins. It’s awesome.. I’d love to learn a trick to increase ramification of catkins lol. But perhaps that’ll just come with ramification of branching.

 

[penumbra]

looking good naked is exactly why we want this tree and species!! Winter image, those catkins. It’s awesome.. I’d love to learn a trick to increase ramification of catkins lol. But perhaps that’ll just come with ramification of branching.

I get it and wish you the best of luck.

 

[Clorgan]

Digging up an old thread! Hope your trees are getting on well ConorDash! I got one of these today - thought it looked really interesting! I notice the bark on the trunks of yours are smooth...mine is not! I'm wondering if this is just old bark that will drop off at some point?

I gave a good prune after reading it can take a bit of a battering, as it was a bit big for the space I'm wanting to put it. Leaving it in the nursery pot until repotting time.

Any pearls of wisdom?

 

[Clorgan]

Sorry just realised I was probably unintentionally hi-jacking your thread there - didn't mean to! Will make a new thread

 

[ConorDash]

Its ok.
That's a good looking gnarly lump. That'd be fun.

The species is slow growing, they won't put on much growth each year. I like them, personally. I created a new thread for another smaller one, I have styled much more radically. I have another smaller one, good size, which I have yet to style + this threads original tree which has recovered from losing its trunks. They are basically boredom material, when I get the right motivation ill go do something.

I've not had enough experience with the species, but so far, they seem a little sensitive, difficult to keep healthy.. the smaller one I styled has some patches of light brown on leaves now, like sun scorch but its not that.

 

[Clorgan]

Yeah I think they're really interesting looking! The bark especially - am I right that this is just old bark? I really like it.

Oh I'll have a look for your other thread, can't remember if I saw it already. Yeah I definitely don't think they're the most aesthetically pleasing trees, but seem like a lot of fun.

Good to know they're sensitive - will be leaving mine alone for a while and see how it goes. Cheers for the input!

 

[penumbra]

The species is slow growing,

I find the opposite to be true, but then my is not in training, it is just happily growing in a large pot. I would say it has twice the mass it did a year ago.

they seem a little sensitive, difficult to keep healthy

Again, it is not my experience. They can be a little ratty looking at the end of summer, like dogwoods and many others. Again, maybe they just don't like being messed with.
I would love to post a picture but for some reason my computer is not storing the photos. Hope my wife can figure out why this weekend.

 

[ConorDash]

Different climes, perhaps it likes yours more.