Turkish Hazel tree
Corylus colurna

Family: Betulaceae

What it is like

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.

There are about 15 Corylus species.

Where it is found

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.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, China, Europe, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Himalayas, India, Iran, Italy, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Tasmania, Turkey (country/location of origin), Türkiye, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The nuts are edible.

It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

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.

Budded trees produce nuts in 4-5 years.

Its other names

Local names

Bhotia badam, Bhutiabadam, Byzantine hazel, Cobnuts, Constantinople nut, Datvitkhila, Ge bija, Kapasi, Thangi, Trazel, Turkish filbert, Turkish nuts, Umi, Urni, Vilayati poo, Virin

Synonyms

Corylus jacquemontii Decne; Corylus pontica C. Koch; Corylus byzantina;