What is a tree with a twisted, gnarled trunk that can grow in a garden?

Question

I'm starting a garden of plants with bright colors and cool shapes and I kind of got inspiration from reading about the garden at the Burrow as described in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. What's a really cool tree (and kind of spooky) with a gnarled up and twisted trunk that would add a unique twist to a garden?

Answer 1

If you have sandy soil with very sharp drainage a manzanita offers peeling red bark and the plant though not classed as contorted has strongly curved shapes. I grow Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' because it is reputed to have the greatest tolerance for the wet. It has grown well and is 6 x 7-8 feet across after 6 years.
The ground hugging Arctostaphylos uva-ursi has the same twisty stems but not the striking color or peeling bark. However this or a cotoneaster can become very interesting coming off a bank or rockery where their ground level contortions can be elevated to eye-level.
http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/arcdenhm.htm
Corokia cotoneaster is my idea of the perfect halloween plant with its intricate silver black branches. I have a pair of these in planters. Very easy to care for and is popular for bonsai.
http://www.decah.com/corokia.html
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/11220.html
The tree in Rowling's tale is a willow and there is a contorted form called Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa'. It is commonly called a contorted willow or a dragonclaw willow.
Mine is still only 5 years old so only 15-18 feet tall and very narrow.

I also have the Corylus avellana 'Contorta' but mine is not grafted because it is on top of a stone wall where it can drape. For presence in a flat space I would opt for the grafted version.
Dwarf Contorted Hardy Orange, Poncirus trifoliata ‘Flying Dragon’ ‘Monstosa’
http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/poncirustrifoliata/poncirus.html
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31545/


Dwarf contorted locust, Robinia pseudoacacia 'Twisty Baby'
http://canada-gardens.com/2robiniatwistybaby.html
http://www.greenbeam.com/features/plant060605.stm
http://www.greenridgetrees.com/makepage.php?botanical=Robinia%20%27Lace%20Lady%27%20PAF

Contorted Mulberry, Morus 'Unryu'
http://www.gardenworldonline.com/srv/library?ID=2537022
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/80754/index.html

The parasol Beech, Fagus sylvatica ‘Tortuosa'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_Beech
Young's Weeping Birch is contorted, Betula pendula 'Youngii' is a European birch that is usually grafted on a staight trunk so the weeping nature is accentuated.
There is even an evergreen contortionist, the Contorted White Pine, Pinus strobus ‘Contorta'.

This is on my wish list of plants for the next rockery planting I do. Silver prostrate willow or Salix yezoalpina. It needs moist soil with some shade so would be perfect by water. Purple stems & silver green leaves gives it a lot of presence.
Salix repens ‘Boyds Pendulous’ also has silvery green leaves with a paler silvery white underneath.

For fabulous foliage with unusual shapes try Ligustrum japonicum 'Rotundifolium' ('Coriaceum')
http://www.pendernursery.com/Catalog/Detail/ligustrumjaponicumrotundifoliu.html

Parahebe perfoliata has leaves like a series of disks strung on wire trimmed with lovely blue flowers.
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/perennials/Parahebe_perfoliata.html


Then there are near black plants.
Blackbird Spurge (Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’) Larger and more sprawling than other euphorbias it can grow 2’ x 2’ and has evergreen, dark purple, nearly black foliage in full sun.
http://www.planthaven.com/euphblac.html
There are numerous black plants to choose from to add drama in your garden: deep purple to black tulips (Black Parrot or Queen of the Night), black mondo grass, black hollyhock (Alcea rosea Nigra), and Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ (a black variety of elephant ears). Any of these that will grow for you could add to the drama by offering sharp contrast with those that are vividly colored.

Answer 2

Twisted Tree Trunk

Answer 3

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RE:
What is a tree with a twisted, gnarled trunk that can grow in a garden?
I'm starting a garden of plants with bright colors and cool shapes and I kind of got inspiration from reading about the garden at the Burrow as described in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. What's a really cool tree (and kind of spooky) with a gnarled up and twisted trunk that would...

Answer 4

Corkscrew Willow and Harry Lauders Walking Stick are ready made to to order. Paradise tree, Silver Maple, Empress Tree and Boxelder are fast growers that tend toward gnarly if pruned and manipulated a little and there cheap if they don't live through it. RScott

Answer 5

If you're after something short, do NOT choose the willow. The thing will end up huge, and they grow pretty fast. Could even pull your house down if it's too close. Get the corkscrew hazel instead.