Practical
Plants

Corylus maxima

Filbert

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Corylus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
6 m
Spread
5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

None known

Edible uses

Seed - raw or cooked[13][16][17][4]. It is rich in oil. Large and well flavoured, it can be eaten raw, cooked in cakes, pies, breads etc or used to make a plant milk[11]. 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
Milk
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.

None known

Material uses

The seed contains up to 65% of a non-drying oil, used in paints, cosmetics etc[7][17][19][8]. The whole seed can be used to polish and oil wood[20]. Very easy and effective[K]. Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[15]. They need to be left untrimmed or only lightly trimmed if seed is required. Wood - soft, easy to split, not very durable, beautifully veined. Used for inlay work, small items of furniture, hurdles, wattles, basketry, pea sticks etc[24][7][14][17][21][22][23][6]. The twigs are used as dowsing rods by water diviners[5]. The wood also yields a good quality charcoal, used by artists[22][3].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
S. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Woods, hedges and ravines[2].
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
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame[9]. 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[9]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[9]. 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[25][12]. Division of suckers in early spring. Very easy, they can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility[5][12]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[5][22]. Does well in a loamy soil[5]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[5], but it dislikes very acid soils[10]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[1][5]. A very hardy plant but the male flowers can be damaged by heavy frosts at flowering time[12]. The filbert is often cultivated for its edible seeds[18], there are many named varieties[22]. It has often been hybridized with C. avellana in breeding programmes[5]. Plants are self-fertile but a more certain crop is obtained if more than one cultivar is grown[12]. The main difference between cob nuts and filberts is that the husk of a filbert is longer than the seed and often completely encloses it, whilst the husk on a cob nut is shorter than the seed[12]. Squirrels are a major pest of this plant, often decimating the crop of nuts[12]. Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[5].

References

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

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  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

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

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

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  5. 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↩8

  6. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 5. 1983 - 1984. Royal Horticultural Society 1983-00-00

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  7. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  8. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  13. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

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  14. Wright. D. Complete Book of Baskets and Basketry. David and Charles 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-7449-4

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  15. Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649

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  16. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  19. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  20. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  23. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

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  24. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

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

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