Harry Lauder's Walking Stick
Corylus avellana 'Contorta'
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Specifications
| Plant Characteristics | Cold hardy, Flowering, Fall Color/Interest, Thornless, Container Friendly |
|---|---|
| Hardiness Zone | 4a to 8b |
| Sunlight | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Watering Needs | Moderate |
| Preferred Soil | Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Growth Habit | Bushy, Trailing, Upright |
| Blooms In | Spring, Winter |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Foliage Color | Green, Yellow |
| Suitable Space | Outdoors, Indoors |
| Botanical Name | |
| Species | |
| Cultivar | |
| Class | Fagales |
| Does Not Ship To | AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, PR, WA |
Description
Winter Star - Harry Lauder's Walking Stick!
- Incredible Twisting Branches
- Unique Specimen or Hedgerow
- Beautiful Yellow Catkins Drape Down in Early Spring
- Unique Branching Structure
- Four Seasons Of Interest
- Great In Large Containers
- Whimsical Specimen Plant
- Green Leaves
- Cold Hardy
- Appears on Firewise Plant Lists
- Also Called Contorted Hazel and Contorted Filbert
Wise garden designers plan for visual interest in every season. They allow certain plants a chance to shine in their season. Some "ephemerals" shine for a day or two, while other plants have long-lasting appeal.
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta'), is beloved for its unique branches. It will certainly be one of the stars of your Winter Garden.
No matter where you use it, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick becomes a real conversation piece. Highlight one as a stand-out specimen in a courtyard, berm or other high-profile area.
This noteworthy deciduous shrub has such interesting gnarled and twisted branches. Often, it's grown specifically for this unusual branching pattern.
But twisting and curving into ornamental and curious contortions aside, this plant actually has four seasons of whimsical interest!
You'll enjoy terrifically bold, long dangling yellow catkins in late winter or early spring. In summer, rough-textured green leaves are attractive all season, and they mellow to rich yellow fall foliage.
Don't own your own home? No problem! Even renters can grow these terrific plants. They will adapt beautifully to living in large containers.
Frankly, a shrub with this much personality has become a family "pet" over the years. You won't want to miss this extraordinary plant.
Order Harry Lauder's Walking Stick from our expert growers today. Enjoy the charm of this rare ornamental plant.
How to Use Harry Lauder's Walking Stick in the Landscape
This interesting shrub makes a very unique specimen that deserves a place of honor. They'll become a focal point no matter where you plant them.
Add a pair to matching large pots on either side of the garden gate to elevate the moment of entry.
Plant a zigzagging line of them along the sunny edge of a woodland.
Try one in a sunny side yard to improve the experience of these forgotten areas in your landscape.
Why not let these fabulous twisted and contorted branches tell you and your guests an enchanting garden story? Plant one in a special, sunny area of your yard, then build a "Secret Garden" around it. Create a planned path to your new destination spot.
Florists love to use the curiously twisted stems in cut flower arrangements. You can easily create a "Floral Designer" hedgerow with Pussy Willow, Renaissance Spirea, Royal Family Holly Combo, Red Twig Dogwood and Harry Lauder's Walking Stick.
That lineup can become a very effective backdrop to other favorite flowering perennials in a modern Cutting Garden. You'll never be without fresh plant material!
#ProPlantTips for Care
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick performs best in full sun. It will tolerate part shade, but please give at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. The more sun, the better!
Plant it in organically rich, but well-drained soil. Provide a medium amount of water on a regular basis.
Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to keep the root system nice and cool. However, you must pull back the mulch at least 6 inches from the stems to provide proper air circulation.
You'll want to harvest a few of the oldest, thickest stems each year to use in your seasonal decoration. Remove them all the way back to the ground. New growth will emerge from the crown in spring.
Have fun with these amazing shrubs this season in your landscape. Order Harry Lauder's Walking Stick today at NatureHills.com!
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping Rates
Ships in 3-5 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
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Arrived in great condition and is a nice healthy specimen. Very pleased!
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is such a character in the garden, and it sounds like yours arrived ready to settle in and put on a show. We take a lot of care with how these ship, so it's good to hear it came through in solid shape. Thanks for planting with us, Vicki.
It arrived perfectly packed and of good size. I let it adjust to being on the East Coast for a week. Once planted, it immediately began thriving. I am grateful for all the excellent advice received from your company, and am delighted by the health and beauty of my little tree.
Claire, it's great to hear that yours took off so quickly after planting. Harry Lauder's Walking Stick can be a bit of a slow grower over time, so seeing it thrive right out of the gate is a good sign you've got it in the right spot. Those contorted branches will only get more interesting with each season. Thanks for trusting us with your garden. The Nature Hills Team
Still green - we've had lots of rain so that's been helpful. Looking forward to winter (to see it's beautiful silhouette) and hopefully blooms -- and hopefully it will come back a little bigger in spring!
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick really does save its best moments for winter, when that twisted branch structure stands out against a clear sky. The catkins in late winter are a nice bonus too. Sounds like yours is settling in well, and a rainy stretch after planting is about as good a start as you can ask for. Hoping next spring brings you a little more size and lots of character from those contorted stems.
Came very quickly and well packaged. It had lots of leaves and really looked unstressed.
Hearing that it arrived quickly and in good shape is exactly what we aim for. Harry Lauder's Walking Stick can be a bit of a drama queen when it comes to shipping stress, so it's good to know the packaging did its job. Give it a sunny to partly shaded spot and it will reward you with those wonderfully twisted branches, especially beautiful in winter when the leaves drop. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Beautiful and healthy! I’m looking forward to watching it grow.
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is such a rewarding plant to watch over time, Abby. The twisted branches really come into their own once it gets established and starts filling out each season. Thanks for choosing Nature Hills, and we hope it becomes a real showpiece in your garden. The Nature Hills Team
It looks great. Came in very healthy and well rooted. His spot was waiting for him, so he was planted right away. Can’t wait for him to grow into a magnificent tree
Glad Harry arrived healthy and settled right into his new home. Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is such a rewarding plant to watch develop over the years, especially once those twisted branches really fill out in winter. Thanks for sharing, Melissa. The Nature Hills Team
Great little tree I love it. It is doing wel
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick has such a distinctive personality in the garden, and it only gets more interesting as it matures. Those twisted, contorted branches really shine in winter when the leaves are down. Thanks for sharing, Marjorie, and glad to hear it is settling in well. The Nature Hills Team
Love it, been trying to find this and finally have it
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is one of those plants that takes some searching, so it's great to hear you finally tracked one down. It's a real conversation piece in the garden, especially in winter when those twisted branches are on full display. Thanks for choosing us, Karen, and enjoy watching it grow.
I paid a lot for this plant but have had one in the past that grew too big to move when I did. I looked for a Contorted Filbert for years, so when I finally found it I was willing to pay up. It's too hot out now to plant it into the ground so it's sitting in a large pot under a large dogwood tree, staying moist, waiting for Autumn.
Waiting for the right planting window is exactly the right call with a plant like this, and keeping it shaded and moist through the heat is smart. Harry Lauder's Walking Stick really does reward patience, and once it settles in this fall it should establish well before winter. Thanks for seeking it out through us after the long search.
It’s good. It’s settling in for now. We’re loving on it.
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is one of those plants that rewards patience, and it sounds like yours is getting a good start. The contorted branching really shines once it gets established, especially in winter when the catkins appear on those twisted stems. Thanks for sharing, Bette, and enjoy watching it grow into its character.
I was actually shocked at how nice this plant was given that it was shipped. Within a week, it already had new growth. I will buy here again for sure.
New growth within a week of arrival is a great sign that it settled in well. Harry Lauder's Walking Stick can be a bit slow to establish, so seeing it push out new leaves that quickly means it was in good shape from the start. Thanks for the kind words, Angela, and we look forward to growing your garden again.
Beautiful Tree
I couldn’t be happier
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick has such a striking presence in the landscape, especially once those twisted branches are on full display in winter. Glad it arrived in good shape and is settling in for you. Thanks for sharing, Pamela. The Nature Hills Team
It still has leaves even with all our heavy rain and strong winds we have had lately so we are keeping our fingers crossed!
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is surprisingly tough once it gets established, so the fact that it held on through heavy rain and wind is a good sign. That corkscrew branch structure also makes it a real standout in winter after the leaves drop, so you have something to look forward to. Fingers crossed right along with you, Donna!
Once the plant was shipped, it arrived quickly & was in good condition. Good experience, would purchase from here again!
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is such a fun plant to grow, and it's great to hear it arrived in good shape and ready to get in the ground. We pack these carefully because the contorted branches are part of what makes them special, so it's good to know that came through intact. Thanks for the kind words, Nicole, and we hope it becomes a real standout in your garden.
Healthy looking plant that arrived in good condition and is growing well.
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is such a rewarding plant to watch establish, and it sounds like yours is off to a solid start. Thanks for letting us know it arrived in good shape, Michelle. As it matures, that twisted branching really becomes a showstopper in winter when the leaves are down.
Both Walking Sticks are curly, healthy, and doing great in their new home. Thank you for making my dream come true! I am looking forward to watching them grow year after year.
Watching a Harry Lauder's Walking Stick mature over the years is a real pleasure. Those twisted, contorted branches just get more character with time, so you have a lot to look forward to. Thanks for trusting us with your garden, Natalia.
It's wild looking, I really look forward to watching it grow.
Arrived looking good and ready to bud out. I'm happy and excited.
I saw the Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick in my aunt’s yard and had to get one for myself! I’ve had it in the ground for a couple weeks now and it’s looking health and I can see new leaves popping in. Hopefully that’s ok as we head into autumn. Excited to see this tree grow in the coming years!
Hi Theresa, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! To help put your mind at ease in regard to the new leaves popping up in fall, yes, it is perfectly normal and actually a great sign that the plant is rooting well, even as we head into autumn. When you plant a shrub in the fall, it enters a 'root growth' phase where it focuses on establishing itself before the ground freezes. Seeing those new leaves popping out means your shrub has quickly recovered from the stress of planting and is actively getting settled. Thank you - Nature Hills Customer Support
very large healthy plant
Hi Mary, Thank you for your lovely review! We are glad to hear that Harry arrived looking amazing; great choice! As a gardening tip, remember to prune your plant in late winter to promote new growth and maintain its unique shape. Happy gardening - Nature Hills Customer Support
Beautiful plant arrived. Helpful AI response to request for advice.
Hi Bryan,
Thank you for your glowing review! While we do have live customer service agents here for help, we also do have a fabulous A.I. Agent that is also here to help and is programmed with accurate plant knowledge to also be able to offer help or suggestions whenever needed - we're glad to hear it helped you out!
Thank you - Nature Hills Customer Support
My tree arrived in great shape. Packaged well and a nice small bush size as I would expect with this variety of tree. I had one of these trees for many years but it recently died so I'm very happy to have found a replacement! Thank you so much!
Hi Theresa, Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a great review! Harry Lauder's Walking Sticks are such unique trees - great choice! We do strive to ensure trees are packaged safely during their journey to your doorstep. May twisted Harry bring some extra whimsy to your landscape. Thank you - Nature Hills Customer Support
I've purchased a Harry Lauder's Walking Stick and an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple from Nature Hills Nursery both of which arrived in excellent condition and are now thriving in my gardens. I will not hesitate to purchase from Nature Hills Nursery
Dear Bette M.,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with the Harry Lauder's Walking Stick and the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple! We’re delighted to hear that both plants arrived in excellent condition and that they are now flourishing in your gardens. It’s always heartwarming to know our plants have found a happy, thriving home with dedicated gardeners like you.
Should you ever have any questions about care or potential new additions to your garden, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help every step of the way. Wishing you continued joy and beauty in your outdoor spaces!
Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team
Very nice.
Hello Theobelle,
Thank you so much for your kind and concise feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that your experience with us was “very nice.” If there’s anything specific you’d like to share about your plants or if you ever need advice or assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re always happy to help your garden flourish.
Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts
Unbelievably fast shipping, arrived in the same week as ordered. The specimen was extremely well packed yet easy to open. The plant itself was truly spectacular right out of the box! Very healthy and robust looking, nice shape and no damage at all. Very, very pleased with my experience. Nature Hills has earned another loyal customer. Way better option than my local nursery that had a less than desirable specimen or two that was around 40% more expensive than Nature Hills. Kudos folks!👍�
Hi Hal,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your Harry Lauder's Walking Stick arrived so quickly and in such excellent condition. Our team takes great care in packing each plant securely, and it’s fantastic to know that our efforts made unboxing a joy for you. It’s always rewarding to hear we’re providing a healthier and more affordable option than local nurseries.
If you ever have questions or want tips on caring for your walking stick, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to support your garden journey every step of the way. Enjoy watching your spectacular new plant thrive!
Growing with you,
Nature Hills Nursery – Your Trusted Plant Specialists
