I purchased 2 contorted filberts this Spring. I planted one in a sunny spot (morning) with well drained soil and it is doing quite well--about 3 feet tall and bushy. The second plant looks like it may be an improper graft and I'm not sure what to do with it. So far, I have left it in a pot on the deck. The plant has a perfectly straight trunk (about 3.5 feet high) with a bushy mop of the contorted branches on top. I'm wondering if it's possible to cut the tree and use a root compound to form a new, shorter base for the tree/shrub. Otherwise I guess I could keep it as an interesting specimen....Can it be brought indoors? I have a room that is flooded with natural light all day. I live in Western MA/Zone 5. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Re: Contorted Hazel help Sorry, no, that won't work. It is extremely difficult (nearly impossible) to root as a cutting. Also no, it can't be brought indoors, it needs a cold winter dormant period. BTW, it is a cultivar of Hazel Corylus avellana, not of Filbert C. maxima.
Cutting-raised 'Contorta' are sold here, in addition to grafted specimens. The rootstocks of the grafted plants often sucker. Those grown from cuttings do not have this nuisance aspect. However, the one you bought with a single stem was grafted at the top of this or trained into that shape by the grower. Such plants would often cost more than those allowed to develop without such treatment, it would defeat the purpose of it to eliminate the single trunk.
Thanks. Your reply is very helpful. This is a new specimen in my garden and I have not seen any other specimens with the straight trunk. Will it be all right to keep it potted or should I find a spot for it and plant it?
Best planted in the ground. Growing it in a very large pot is possible, but needs a lot more care and attention than one in the ground.
