Farges Filbert Corylus fargesii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-EH-lus far-JES-ee-eye
- Description
-
The Farges Filbert is a small deciduous tree native to China that was named after botanist Paul Guillaume Farges who was an early 20th century French missionary and plant collector. Although it has been described as early as the late 1800's, its seeds were not introduced into the United States until 1996. In its native habitat, which includes mountain valley forests, it can reach heights of up to 130 feet tall. In the landscape, it will grow to 50'.
The bark from the Farges Filbert is its most attractive feature. The cream to cinnamon colored peeling bark makes this a perfect choice as a specimen in the landscape.
It blooms in May and fruits follow and ripen in August. The fruits as well as oils extracted from the fruits are edible. When properly stored in a cool environment in their shell, the fruits can last up to a year.
An early bloomer, flowers can occur on bare stems as early as March. The reddish-brown male flower is a 2-4" catkin that hang from the branches. The female flowers are almost invisible, therefore insignificant.
Most reproduction is accomplished through seed and grafting, as this tree proves to be difficult to propagate by cuttings.
Unlike many other trees, this species is resistant to the fungus Eastern Filbert Blight.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Disease and insect resistant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Corylus
- Species:
- fargesii
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Landsxape
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Wildlife Value:
- Small mammals feast on the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The seeds and oils derived from this tree are edible.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- 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)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a hard shelled nut which is edible. The 1/2" fruits form in a 2-4" tubular sheath.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Male and female flowers both appear on the same plant. The reddish-brown male flowers appear in the form of drooping catkins, 2-4" long. The female flowers can be found at the tip of the bud and are barely visible.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The large leaves are toothed and typically disease free.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The silvery gray bark flakes off to reveal tan/copper colored bark, quite attractive.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Straight trunk and often multistemmed with horizontal branching.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
