Practical
Plants

Corylus colurna

Turkish Hazel

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Corylus genus in the family Betulaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Corylus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
20 m
Spread
7 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[9][11][13][2]. Rich in oil. As nice a flavour as C. avellana, the common hazel nut[4][5]. 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

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seeds are tonic[12].

Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - firm, durable, moderately hard. Used for furniture, turnery etc[16][5].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
S.E. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Shady mixed forests, 1000 - 1800 metres in E. Asia[16]. Found at altitudes up to 3000 metres in the Himalayas where it is found mainly on northerly aspects and in shady places[4][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
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[6]. 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[6]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[6]. 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[17][10].

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][10]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[3][15]. Does well in a loamy soil[3]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[3], but it dislikes very acid soils[7]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.3 to 7.3. Once established, this is a very drought resistant tree[8]. It does not produce suckers[8]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[1][3]. A very ornamental tree[1]. Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[3]. The Turkish hazel is occasionally cultivated for its edible seed[13][14][5]. This species is also useful in hybridizing with C. avellana in order to develop superior fruiting cultivars[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  4. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  11. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

    ↩

  12. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  15. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

    ↩

  16. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  17. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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