Here's a purple leaf version from a very good nursery.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: CORYLUS AVELLANA 'RED DRAGON': Klehm's Song Sparrow

Will Corylus avellana be happy in Dallas?

they are also prone to some disease.. the name of which i forgot.. when it killed my 10 year old plant ...

ken

European hazels are generally susceptible to Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB).

thx corky .... is this one European???

mine was sold as harry lauders walking stick ... and i had it.. long before i learned the latin.. which sure helps using search engines ...

a second issue with HLWS was that they can sucker wildly ... and they all will.. eventually .... and many that do.. are not grafted on contorted understock .... so you ended up it straight pieces growing like mad.. up thru the corkscrew plant .. though mine got the disease.. its suckers were also corkscrew.... win some.. lose some ...

ken

"Will Corylus avellana be happy in Dallas?"
I would try it in quite deep shade, I don't think it will stand the Texas sun. After all it's a understory bush for a cool summer climate.

C. avellana is European Hazel. I think walking stick is a cultivar 'Contorta'. There is some work being done to create resistant Eur. hybrids, but I BELIEVE walking sticks are all susceptible.

http://gardening-time.blogspot.com/2012/08/eastern-filbert-blight.html#!/2012/08/eastern-filbert-blight.html

Alternately, you can try stuff like Turkish hazel which is supposedly more resistant. It also doesn't sucker and is a true tree.