Corylus chinensis
Chinese Hazel
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Corylus genus in the family Betulaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Betulaceae
- Genus
- Corylus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 24 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Wind
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - raw or cooked[10][2][6][7]. Rich in oil. A shrub at Kew was 2 metres tall and 2 metres wide in July 1996 with a reasonable crop of immature fruit[K]. The seed ripens in mid to late autumn and will probably need to be protected from squirrels[K]. When kept in a cool place, and not shelled, the seed should store for at least 12 months[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed,
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Seed
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy, Secondary canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Shady mixed forests[11]. Forests on moist mountain slopes at levations of 1200 - 3500 metres[9].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Tolerances
- high wind, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame[4]. Germinates in late winter or spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked in warm water for 48 hours and then given 2 weeks warm followed by 3 - 4 months cold stratification[4]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[4]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or sheltered place outdoors for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[K]. Layering in autumn. Easy, it takes about 6 months[12][8]. Division of suckers in early spring. Very easy, they can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility[3][8]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[3][10]. Does well in a loamy soil[3]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[3], but it dislikes very acid soils[5]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[1][3]. Once established, this species is drought resistant[7]. It does not produce suckers[7]. A very ornamental tree[1], it is closely allied to C. colurna[3]. It has become very rare in China where it is considered to be at risk of extintion[9]. Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00