Practical
Plants

Corylus cornuta

Beaked 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
3 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[8][13][2]. Very popular in America, the seed is sweet and well-flavoured with a thin shell[8][16]. The seed can be dried and ground into a powder which is added to cereals and used in making bread, pies etc[16][7]. 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.

An infusion of the branches and leaves has been used in the treatment of heart complaints and intestinal disorders[10]. A decoction of the bark has been given to children to alleviate teething pain[10].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

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

Young sucker shoots are used to make a rope[17]. The shoots are soaked in urine first, to make them more pliable[10]. A blue dye is obtained from the root or inner bark[17][2]. The branches are used in basketry[4].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
String

Environment

Range
Eastern and Central N. America.
Habitat
Dry or moist woodland on hills or mountain slopes[13]. Rich thickets, clearings and woodland edges[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

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[5]. 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[5]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[5]. 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[15][9]. 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][9]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[3][14]. Does well in a loamy soil[3]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[3], but it dislikes very acid soils[6]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.8 to 7.5. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[1][3]. Plants are hardy to about -30°c[4]. They thrive in a short growing season[4]. This species is occasionally cultivated for its edible seed in N. America[12] but is of no value in Britain as a seed bearer[3]. Plants can bear fruit in 5 - 6 years from seed[4]. Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[3].

References

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

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  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  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↩7

  4. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  10. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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

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  13. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

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

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

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  16. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2

  17. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2

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