Corylus avenllana is the proper name of the tree I am following, corkscrew hazel is its common name, and Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick is its nickname.
This nickname was what attracted me to the plant many years ago. That and a photo of a full-grown plant.
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| This photo of a full grown contorted hazel is from the on-line site Dave’s Garden. |
I loved the twisted branches and knew it would be an outstanding plant in winter months, with the contorted branches silhouetted against the snow. Plus I was intrigued by the name. Who was Harry Lauder and why was his walking stick so crooked?
My view would not have been the norm in the 1900s: Lauder was then the highest paid performer in the world. Sir Henry, as he later became, performed dressed in a kilt and with a cromach, a Scottish walking stick that, apparently, was made of highly polished and twisted branch from a contorted hazel.
And so we circle back to my contorted hazel, Corylus avellana.
The variety I planted is called ‘Red Majestic’ because of the colour of its leaves. When I bought it, and as the leaves emerged this spring, they were a stunning rich burgundy.
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| The colour of the leaves in spring and early summer is quite glorious. |
But as they age, they are fading to a dark, dull green — a boring shade of green, actually. Depressing. A shade that seems to eat the sunlight and reflect nothing sunny in return.
And something is going wrong.
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| The colour of the leaves in early August makes the plant look like it is sick. |
Do you see the discolouration on the leaf at the left of the photo above? It seems to be wilting and turning up at the corners. The still-green leaf below shows the problem more clearly.
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| What is going on here? |
Turning the leaf to examine the back, I see no signs of an infestation. We’ve had very little rain in recent times, except for the occasional downpour that has no time to sink into the ground, so the wilt may indicate a lack of moisture. But I think the problem is more serious.
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| Definitely looking cursed. |
If anyone can suggest a cause or a solution, please do. I don’t particularly like this tree but I’d like to give it another year or two, to see the yellow catkins in the spring. If my tree ever grew into anything resembling the hazel in the photo from Dave’s Garden, I’d be thrilled. Otherwise I may have found the perfect excuse to get rid of it.
Or to give it a new nickname. You are probably familiar with the theatrical tradition that prohibits actors from pronouncing the name of the play when rehearsing or performing MacBeth. To avoid the curse that the name brings, they refer to it as the Scottish Play. But not Peter O’Toole. In contrarian fashion, he called it Harry Lauder. The connection with the kilt-wearing, cromach-carrying Scot is clear. So perhaps my dying plant will become Banquo’s Ghost.
Definitely needs a witches brew! “Double, double toil and trouble;
fire burn and cauldron bubble.”
Yep, a good bubbling cauldron would rid me of this pesky shrub. Why didn’t I think of that?
Check branches for signs of Eastern flibert blight. Otherwise I have no idea.
Thank you for this suggestion. I will check and let you know the results.
I’m afraid I can’t help, but I just thought I’d say Hear, Hear to your comment about not liking this tree. It always seems sort of freakish to me.
At the moment the tree is almost hidden behind some amsonia that has grown taller than expected, so at least I don’t see it unless I choose to!
I’m so pleased to learn the name of this tree … have seen specimens on occasions and wondered what they were. I’m sorry about the withering or whatever.
It now looks like an insect — something is definitely eating the leaves.
Thank you for the story of how the tree got its name. As you say the tree looks wonderful in winter, specially against snow. I have noticed that the leaves on mine never look very good in summer. They are drab looking at best. I hope your tree is just suffering from a late summer malaise rather than a disease.
Some insect is the cause, I now think. What a pity, though, that the leaves don’t retain their colour through the summer months. How large is your tree?
I’d heard of Harry Lauder but knew little about him. I found him on Google Images. His walking stick is bizarre and, presumably, useless! His song ‘Keep Right on To the End of the Road’ is the one I know. You are certainly keeping on with this tree even though you have fallen out with it.
Nicely said, Lucy! yes, I keep on keeping on, as well as falling out. I’m determined to give the tree one full year and following it forces me to do this. So thank you!
Great story, Pat, tying together Harry Lauder, McBeth, Peter O’Toole and corkscrew hazels. I’m rooting for your tree! I hope it’s not too sick. Also, it might be beneficial to have green leaves part of the year so that it can get a good amount of photosynthesizing done.