Red Dragon Contorted Filbert

Corylus avellana ‘Red Dragon’ PP 20694

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4b-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-12′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Burgundy-Red

Flower Size: Medium, 1/4″ wide x 1-2″ long

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Catkin

Fragrant Flowers: NO

Foliage Color: Deep Burgundy-Maroon

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5 (Slighty Acidic to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low when left in it’s natural form

Attracts: Birds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Insect (Excluding Japanese Beetles), Filbert Blight

Description

With its deep maroon-purple leaves on twisted corkscrew branches, the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert is guaranteed to please with outstanding form, texture and color. The obovate, wavy leaves hold their color for most of the growing season before dropping in winter to reveal the twisted branches. In late winter clusters of bronze-orange catkins (flowers) emerge hanging in clusters from stem-tips just before the new leaves arrive. Cut stems are exceptionally unique and nice in dried floral arrangements. Red Dragon Contorted Filbert is a must have for the gardener that enjoys unique and interesting plants.

Please Note: Depending on location, climate, sun exposure, and other factors, and as with many red-leaved Japanese maple cultivars, the mature leaves of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert may turn from the purple-red they are throughout spring to a purple to red tinted green or deep green during the summer months. That said, new leaves that emerge during summer will usually be a purplish-red. At our nursery, to better control soil moisture in the pot we keep all contorted filberts in a semi-shaded location. When in more shade, the leaves of the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert may be more green during summer than if they were in sun.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert can be grown as a somewhat large shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small tree. It is ideal for use as a focal point specimen or in groupings in landscape borders and home foundation plantings and can also be grown in pots, planters and other containers for use on a patio, deck or around other outdoor living spaces. A fine addition to an Asian garden or red theme color gardens.

Growing Preferences

The Red Dragon Contorted Filbert prefers a moist but well drained slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil and full sun to part shade. When planting in heavy clay soil it’s a good idea to amend the native soil at a 50/50 ratio with a sandy, bagged top soil to ensure good drainage. We suggest a minimum of 4 hours direct sunlight per day during spring, summer and fall.

Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop monitors or below on mobile devices.

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Ordered a 3 gallon pot – arrived quickly and packed good. I had it about 3 weeks now and appears to be thriving. I appreciated the fact I could order this rare and hard to find bush/tree.. I have a Harry Lauder contorted filbert and I love it. Many compliments – and a few people think it needs to be watered because of the curly branches and leaves. Highly recommend this plant.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The red dragon contorta is exactly what I ordered. I am very pleased. I had done an extensive search and was so pleased to find it.———————————-One of my favorires! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Impressive 3 gallon plant. well packaged, Great value.———————————————-I love this plant. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I am very happy so far hope they grow.———————————————I love this plant. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Very pleased with the tree I received.—————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I love Wilson Bros. Gardens. My Red Dragon Controted Filbert arrived on time, very nice packaging. Tree was moist and is healthy. I had to contact customer service by phone and the woman I spoke with was very sweet, knowledgeable and professional.————————-Thanks so much for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I have a new place to order my plants, very good packaging. Had moisture perfect. I was ordering another plant when I saw this… Thanks Nice job you’s guy’s I order a lot of plants. Got my spot to order it was perfect.——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The red dragon arrived quickly and was well packaged. The tree is in good shape, and as I couldn’t find this cultivar around here it was just what I hoped for. Great purchase and I’m about to order another tree from Wilson Bros!——————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG