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| Red Dragon filbert in Columbus, Ohio garden |
Red Dragon™ is an outstanding red leaf selection of contorted filbert (C. avellana Red Dragon™). This unique landscape shrub grows 6 - 8 feet tall and 5 - 6 feet wide. It is a perfect size for most urban gardens (USDA hardiness zones 4-8).
This red-leaf shrub was developed by the Oregon State University filbert breeding program. Currently, gardeners are losing the popular green leaf variety "Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick" (C. avellana ‘Contorta’) to Eastern filbert blight. Red Dragon filbert demonstrates superior resistance to this disease. It also replaces ‘Red Majestic’, another red leaf variety also susceptible to Eastern filbert blight.
Red Dragon grows best in moist, organically rich, well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates average garden soils. Prompt removal of root suckers improves shrub appearance by avoiding a buildup of thickets.
Autumn leaf drop exposes the unique contorted branching and ornate floral catkins in early days of spring. Filberts are monoecious, e.g. individual male and female catkins (flowers) develop on the same plant in late winter to early days of spring (March-April) before leaves emerge. The 2-3 inch long yellow male catkins (flowers) are showier. The 4-inch elliptical or ovate leaves are doubly serrate.
Red Dragon retains its burgundy red leaf color into early summer. The foliage is also partly curled. Leaves are coated with tiny hairs and appear dusty by the end of summer. Fall leaf color is variable, often with tinges of yellow. Smooth light bark is gray-brown.
Nuts appear in terminal clusters of 1-4 and are half covered in ragged husks. Nuts ripen in late August and September which the neighborhood squirrels and birds should enjoy.
Red Dragon filbert may also be grown in containers. Disease and pest problems are few. Japanese beetles may vigorously attack the foliage in some areas. Scale may also occur.
Red Dragon™ is mostly sold grafted and available from specialty nurseries online. It requires little to no pruning; remove root suckers and keep the shrub well mulched. ‘Red Dragon’ is sold either grafted or not. It is sold primarily by online nurseries.
