Corylus "Contorta" Avellana

ConorDash

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So I bought these 2 Contorta hazelnuts, as they were around when at a garden centre and I can't say no to them. I chose the best 2 I could find.

I did a little experiment, which I don't think has born much fruit but maybe you can tell me more. 1 (in the black pot) had 3 large branches, 2 were pruned and it was left in its pot. Seems to be planted in maybe loam? Its a very sandy black soil. Very water retentive.
The other was re-potted in to mostly inorganic clay fired granules and a bit of pine bark. It was not pruned.
The pics of original purchase escape me but I will post when I find them..

Here they are currently:
DSC_0895 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

DSC_0901 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0902 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0900 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

The other:
DSC_0897 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

I left this new shoot to grow (as you can see it must be part of the root or something, as its completely straight. It also grew extremely quickly, compared to the contorta parts), to thicken the base, which it has started to do.
DSC_0898 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

DSC_0903 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

I've learnt a few things... I was very cautious with these when bought, and I could have afforded not to be. I was scared to prune more but they are both doing very well, new buds everywhere now too. I could have progressed them more if I had pruned more. That shoot I left to grow to thicken the base, isn't quite at the base, so unsure if it will thicken down more... so don't know if I should cut off or not.

The idea behind both is gnary, ugly, non-rule abiding.. POTENTIALLY... literati in their future, as this species lends itself to that.
Or maybe if I can get 1-3 solid, tapering trunks, I can try to ramify for a lovely winter image.
I think both have potential to become something good, but will take time. Its a very slow growing species.

Your thoughts?
 

Woocash

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Yarp, That’s from the root stock. They readily sprout from the base so you’ll have to keep that in check - but probably handy for thickening the base. Think you’ll probably end up with a regular ‘coppicing’ though.

Looking forward to grabbing one of these myself. They certainly have an original look.
 

AlainK

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I have a big potted one (about 3 feet) that suffered a lot during the heat waves this summer, but it's still alive although the top has dried out.

And yes, they tend to push out new straight shoots from the base for most, if not all those you can buy are grafted.

In summer, they have a rounded shape as Woocash wrote and the leaves are very big so they're very ordinary-looking. Mature specimens at their best toward the end of the winter when the tree is still nakedbut the male flowers (catkins or aments) hang from the twisted branches.

I'm planning to air-layer the branches that are still alive on mine, I think they can live on their own roots.
 

ConorDash

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I have a big potted one (about 3 feet) that suffered a lot during the heat waves this summer, but it's still alive although the top has dried out.

And yes, they tend to push out new straight shoots from the base for most, if not all those you can buy are grafted.

In summer, they have a rounded shape as Woocash wrote and the leaves are very big so they're very ordinary-looking. Mature specimens at their best toward the end of the winter when the tree is still nakedbut the male flowers (catkins or aments) hang from the twisted branches.

I'm planning to air-layer the branches that are still alive on mine, I think they can live on their own roots.

Thanks, yes I’ve had another larger one for over a year now. Difficult to tell it’s health as they seem to keep leaves for a very short time then they dry up. Currently my larger one had catkin...

My larger one (there’s a thread on forum) actually mostly died back. No idea what happened but about 70% of its long growth all died... was a big shame as it’ll take a long time to regrow but for now, it’s been cut back and left to get healthier and stronger. It’s still got a great little trunk on it.
 

AlainK

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Chop it at the first branch and you got yourself a cool little semi Cascade started up.

Hey, that is a "fake" bonsaï, the top of a Corylus avelana that dried out in summer 2019. I know that you live in an area where "fake " things are now the norm, but it's just a dead branch in lava rock.

OK, in some exhibitions, such a scam could get a prize, but it's just a kind of "dead Ikebana", nothing more.... ;)
 

just.wing.it

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Hey, that is a "fake" bonsaï, the top of a Corylus avelana that dried out in summer 2019. I know that you live in an area where "fake " things are now the norm, but it's just a dead branch in lava rock.

OK, in some exhibitions, such a scam could get a prize, but it's just a kind of "dead Ikebana", nothing more.... ;)
If you insist.
 
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