First, my understanding is that Corylus should be referred to
as ‘Hazel le Rougetel’.
Second, HlR or Corylus is remontant–to a limited extent–
it has a couple flowers on it today, 8/26/2010, as well as hips in all stages from reddish to small and green. If it were deadheaded/hips removed, perhaps it might flower better.
I haven’t hybridized it, but op hips germinate generously, and the seedlings resemble mama.
I’m in Oregon, and the plant does get some water from the fringe of the sprinkler. It has lovely light (? parsley?) green, “ferny” foliage, which sometimes gives a lovely fall foliage effect. The plant is about six feet tall, and suckers in all directions, more even than most rugosas. The OP seedlings are suckering in their two and three gallon containers. Canes are heavily thorny, but the thorns are
small and relatively inoffensive.
I would like it better if it didn’t sucker so much, and if
it had fewer thorns. If it crosses with tetraploids, ‘Basye’s Blueberry’ grows nearby/is being invaded by HlR, so
that might be a good cross either way.
Basye’s Blueberry OP has given variations in flower color,
including a sort of salmon shade, and a single white. The
seedlings have not been very vigorous, but thornless and so
far have not suckered.
Ken