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Byzantine Hazel Corylus colurna

Phonetic Spelling
kor-EE-lus koh-LUR-nuh
Description

Turkish Hazel is a large deciduous tree with edible fruits in the beech family.  It can grow up to 50 feet tall when planted as a yard tree or street, however, in its native environment, it can reach heights of up to 80'.

Prized by landscape contractors for its showy dense horizontal branches.  Its main limbs are small in diameter compared to its straight trunk.  The branches sit at almost a 90-degree angle in relation to the trunk.  This makes the tree quite durable and helps maintain its symmetrical crown.  

Its flowers can begin to bloom in February or March, the leaves are among the last to drop at the end of the season and its bare branches add to the winter garden, giving this tree somewhat year round interest.

Its female flowers are insignificant reddish scars, while the male flowers make a showy appearance in the landscape.

Although edible, the thick, hard shell of the nuts can be difficult to penetrate.  However, once opened, the nuts have a mild taste and a long shelf life.  

It is drought tolerant once established and works well in urban spaces making an excellent lawn shade or street tree.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems.  Japanese beetles can defoliate portions of the tree.  This tree has poor transplant survival rate.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#drought tolerant#air pollution tolerant#street tree#lawn tree#disease resistant#edible tree#naturalized area#compaction tolerant#deciduous tree#food source fall#urban conditions tolerant#poor drainage tolerant#salt spray intolerant#horizontal branching#insect resistant#food source winter#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#drought tolerant#air pollution tolerant#street tree#lawn tree#disease resistant#edible tree#naturalized area#compaction tolerant#deciduous tree#food source fall#urban conditions tolerant#poor drainage tolerant#salt spray intolerant#horizontal branching#insect resistant#food source winter#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Corylus
    Species:
    colurna
    Family:
    Betulaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Street tree
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe to Iran
    Wildlife Value:
    Nuts are enjoyed by small mammals, especially squirrels.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Edible fruit
    Screening
    Shade
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Nuts can be roasted and eaten but are often left for small mammals.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Horizontal
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Edible nuts have spiny hairy husks and appear in clusters of 3-6. Litter can be a problem in hardscape areas.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Early spring male flowers are yellow catkins individually clustered together and give some interest to the March landscape. Female flowers are insignificant.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Denticulate
    Doubly Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    5" long bright green glossy leaves with hairy veins on the underside. Fall color is unremarkable yellow.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Orange
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Spongy
    Bark Description:
    The thick gray/brown mottled and corky bark has an orange-brown inner bark. Young shoots are hairy.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Young shoots can be hairy.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Drought
    Pollution
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions
    Problems:
    Messy