Corylus colurna L.

A deciduous tree with a single trunk. It grows to 8-24 m high. It has a shallow spreading crown. The tree is normally a pyramid shape. The bark is grey and corky. The leaves are alternate and simple. They have large and small teeth along the edge. The leaves are dark green and 12 cm long by 10 cm across. They are heart shaped at the base. The leaf stalk is stout and hairy and reddish in colour. The flowers are yellow catkins. The female flowers are small and male flowers are long. Male are 7.5 cm long, yellow and drooping. Female ones are very small and red. The nuts project out the end of the green bract. The edges of the bract bend backwards. The nut is edible.

It is a temperate plant. It is native to S.W. Asia and S.E. Europe. It will grow on many soils. It can stand hard frost when dormant. It does well when winters are cold and summers are hot. It is very drought resistant. It grows naturally in shady mountain forests. It can tolerate air pollution. In the Himalayas it grows between 1,600-3,300 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 4-8. Arboretum Tasmania.

The nuts are edible.

The seed need to be sown very fresh or they can be treated with cold then sown. Seedlings are usually budded with buds from a good variety. They can also be grown by layering of tips and by root suckers.