The filbert is also known as a hazelnut tree. The nuts are usually harvested in the summer. This deciduous plant can be grown as a large shrub or trained into an upright tree capable of reaching 20 feet high and wide. It becomes covered in ruffled foliage in the spring and summer months.

A large filbert tree with a contorted trunk was slated to be destroyed as part of the demolition plans at a site in in South Bellevue, Wash., when a local a tree transplanting and tree nursery company came to its rescue.

Big Trees Inc., located in the Seattle suburb of Snohomish, recently completed a difficult transplant job of the tree. Earlier, they were called in to assess the tree for the possibility of salvage and decided to take on the task.

The tree was a 12 feet tall and weighed 2,000 pounds with a 10-inch trunk diameter and 10 to 12 foot canopy, a significant size for such a tree according to Big Trees project manager, Todd Holmes. The tree's contorted trunk wasn't the only difficulty that his team faced, as a landscape rock had become nestled into its root system. The tree's root ball suffered slight damage at the removal of the rock, but the transplant project team was able to safely transport the tree to its nursery. Holmes is very hopeful that the tree adjusts to its new environment and recovers from the move.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees Inc., stated: "A tree like that should really not come in harm's way. A good decision was made in salvaging it. Come next spring we expect the tree will be doing very well. The tree is an interesting specimen, for its size and distinctive shape. We'll work to make sure it finds a fitting new home."

Big Trees Inc. states that it is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They deliver young trees and mature trees in a wide range of sizes and types including spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees.