Corylus avellana Twister - Common Hazel

Hazel or Corylus avellana 'Twister' is a dwarf variety of twisted hazel. It grows slowly, in a spiral, and forms a miniature tree with beautifully and regularly twisted and sinuous branches. In late winter, its branches are adorned with pretty elongated yellow catkins, before the leaves appear. These are green during the season and turn golden yellow in autumn. This very compact, small shrub can be grown in the ground or a pot on the terrace. Very hardy and adaptable, it tolerates all soils as long as they are not too dry or too shallow.

The Hazel tree, is a large fruit-bearing shrub of the Betulaceae family (like Birches, Hornbeams or Alders in the countryside). It is found throughout Europe, as well as in Russia and the Middle East. It is very common in woods and on the edge of forests, in moist, rich and deep soils. As early as the end of winter, between February and March, when their branches are still bare, hazels produce long decorative male catkins. They will pollinate the tiny female flowers that appear afterwards. The species is monoecious, meaning that the male and female flowers are separate but present on the same plant.

The 'Twister' hazel is a dwarf and twisted form, which reaches 1.5m in height and 1m in width after 10 years of cultivation and can eventually measure 2 to 3m in height. Hazels can form very large crowns over the years, but that will not be the case here, 'Twister' develops moderately and at a slow pace. Its branches contort themselves down to the finest twig, thus forming a particularly decorative scene. It becomes even more striking when the rain makes its beautiful copper-brown bark shine, or when snow or ice settles on the branches, emphasising their unique architecture. In February-March, before the leaves appear, the bare wood is adorned with numerous slender and narrow yellow catkins, about 5 centimetres long. These pendants then transform the shrub into a chandelier with fantastic shapes. The 5 to 10 cm long leaves, have a beautiful bright green colour throughout the growing season and then turn golden yellow in autumn to finish beautifully.

Plant 'Twister' in a bed near the house, so you can enjoy it from your window during winter as it is at its most beautiful when its branches are bare. You can associate it with other plants with winter interest, such as shrubs with decorative bark, such as the Common Dogwood, planted in the background because it is more vigorous, whose bright red bark strongly contrasts with the hazel's brown. Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' with its yellow branches is also an excellent companion, as well as Rubus thibetanus 'Silver Fern', an ornamental bramble with very upright beautiful white branches. Also consider decorative fruits, such as those of Spindle Trees like Euonymus planipes, which also forms a wonderful scene in autumn with its flamboyant purple foliage against which the hazel's yellow foliage stands out. It can be easily grown in a pot to decorate a terrace or even a balcony.