California hazel
Corylus cornuta var. californica

Family: Betulaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 8 m tall. It has several stems. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are dark green and simple and alternate. The leaves are rounded and with twice divided teeth along the edge. The flowers are yellow. The husks are shorter and the catkins longer than the beaked filbert. The nuts are edible.

There are about 15 Corylus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It can grow in a sunny or partly shaded position. It needs a pH of 4.8-7.5. It can tolerate frost when dormant and needs a frost free period of 19 weeks.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The nuts are eaten fresh. They can also be stored for later use.

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds. The seeds need cold treatment. A spacing of about 2 m is suitable.

It is slow growing and long lived.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Corylus californica (A. DC.) A. Heller; Corylus cornuta subsp. californica (A. DC.) A. E. Murray; Corylus cornuta var. californica (A. DC.) W. M. Sharp; Corylus rostrata var. californica A. DC.