make sure that its having plenty of water, if you give it a really good drink---a bucketful at least --- then see if it improves-- if not give it another in the cool of the evening and see in the morning if theres an improvement

The gene that causes the twisted branches also causes the leaves to twist and curl. This is why some people plant a large growing perennial or grass to obscure it during summer so that they can cut it back to reveal the Hazel when it is out of leaf.

Thank you both - will give it a drink now and not worry about it.

Fractal's right - the leaves look almost as if there's something wrong with the plant, not very pleasant to look at really. The beauty of this plant is the bare tracery of its branches in the winter.

Thank you for this. I bought a new Corkscrew Hazel and was abut to uproot it because the leaves were so limp and I thought it was diseased. The information on this forum helped hugely and I will now persevere.