Walking Stick Tree Dying

The trunks of twisted hazelnut trees contorted filbert trees grow to 10 or 15 feet 3 4 5 m tall and are so twisted that gardeners give the tree the nickname harry lauder s walking stick the branches are also uniquely curled and twisted.

Walking stick tree dying.

Periodically the leaves on a branch turn brown and the branch it s on becomes brittle. This doesn t seem to be a widespread problem but it is happening. The disease that is attacking them is called eastern filbert blight which is a fungal type disease and not an insect problem. I have a lauder walking stick tree that seems to be under stress.

It has also been known as angelica tree. This tree is slow growing so don t cut too much especially. Aralia spinosa commonly known as devil s walking stick is a woody species of plant in the genus aralia family araliaceae native to eastern north america the various names refer to the viciously sharp spiny stems petioles and even leaf midribs. The other ornamental feature about the trees are the male catkins.

Trim the lower parts of the walking stick tree to remove excess growth and expose the twisted branches in the main part of the plant. Some harry lauder s walking stick plants corylus avellana contorta are being attacked and are dying slowly.