December 29, 2008

A Growing Work of Art in the Garden

‘Contorta’ filbert

Just as it is almost impossible to choose a favorite child or a favorite pet, it is almost impossible to pick a favorite plant, as each one has its own special glory. But there are those plants who manage to capture our attention on a regular basis more frequently, not because of their hijinks, but because of their gifts to the garden twelve months of the year. For me this “possible” favorite is Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick or ‘Contorta’ filbert. Harry Lauder is considered to be a deciduous shrub (or a tree.) It grows about 8 to 10 feet tall; mine might be a little bit taller, and although it can reach 12 feet wide, mine has not reached that width yet. Unfortunately, I do have to do some judicious pruning to keep it in the space where it was planted. It probably needed a bigger spot, but it has been there for more than ten years where it was planted as a gift for my husband. We bought it in the summer when we had no idea of its true glory. The glorious green foliage hid the wonderful gnarled and twisted branches and twigs which come into prominence when the leaves have dropped off in the fall. My friends line up for the clippings to add to flower arrangements. Although filberts are usually grown for their edible fruits, Harry Lauder’s fruits are ornamental; actually, I have only seen about two or three small fruits since I planted it. The male flowers are in the form of hanging catkins which cover the gnarled branches in the winter. My tree is in part sun (where I think it may be happiest) and I do keep it watered well in the summer heat in addition to giving the leaves a daily spritz with the hose sprayer. I am not sure if that is necessary; after it was attacked by insects during a year of drought, I decided the tree’s overall well-being was worth the extra effort.

Harry Lauder is a showstopper, a work of sculpture; in its full glory in the January sun, there is just nothing more beautiful in the garden.