Corylus Colurna - Turkish Hazel

Corylus Colurna, better known as Turkish Hazel, is a large, deciduous tree, prized for its lovely pyramidal form. Apart from offering visual interest, this tree also produces edible nuts. The specimens we offer for sale are shaped as multi-stemmed trees, making them a good choice for specimen planting.

Not unlike other varieties in the Corylus genus of the Hazelnut species, this tree has large, oval to heart-shaped foliage. Leaves are bright green and double-toothed and turn to warm yellow hues in the autumn. The profusion of russet coloured catkins offers interest in the spring. When the deciduous foliage drops in the winter, the showy, corky, corrugated bark provides ornamental value. The fruit this tree produces is edible and encased in large, fringed husks.

When it comes to optimal growing conditions, Turkish Hazel is not fussy. This nut tree will grow in any soil, including chalk and clay, as long as it is well-drained. Plant it in full sun to partial shade. Once established, this cultivar is resistant to drought. Rarely affected by any serious pests and diseases, and tolerates urban pollution.

Introduced to the United Kingdom in the mid-1500s, Corylus Colurna feels at home in the British Isles. Fully hardy, this robust tree will survive even if the winter temperatures drop to 20 degrees below zero. Its reliable performance, good constitution, and decorative value earned this cherished cultivar the coveted Award of Garden Merit by Royal Horticultural Society.

Trained as a multi-stemmed tree rather than its standard columnar shape, Turkish Hazel will still form a very symmetrical, pyramidal shape, but with denser habit. The eye-catching shape of this cultivar responds well to hard pruning. Depending on the results you want, this tree is suitable for coppicing and pollarding as well. Routine maintenance includes thinning our side shoots for further branching or removing congested shoots.  Pruning should be done late march to mid-April. The ultimate size of the tree will depend on the trimming it gets as well as the conditions in which it grows, but it can reach over 12 metres in height and 8 metres in width.

These Corylus Colurna Multi Stem trees lend themselves well to various landscaping projects. Grow it on its own for a focus of interest in the garden or in groups for dense texture.

You might also be interested in other fruit trees and also our collection of large and mature trees.