Corylus Species, Turkish Filbert, Turkish Hazelnut

This has long been highly recommended as a street and urban tree (by Michael Dirr among others), yet it remains unaccountably rare in N. ...Read MoreAmerica, though planted more often in Europe.

It's a beautiful tree with many merits, not planted nearly as often as it deserves. It forms a symmetrical, pyramidal crown while young. Trees are astonishingly uniform, especially considering that they're seed-grown. Branches leave the trunk at right angles and crotches are strong, so pruning is rarely required after the initial limbing up.

Best in full sun, needs good drainage. Medium/slow growing, varying with conditions but often growing about one foot per year. Trees in cultivation reach about 50' (sometimes 70') and about half as wide.

Tolerates air pollution and adapts to a wide range of conditions, including a wide range of soil pH. Young trees take about 2 years to establish, but once established they tolerate drought. Rarely troubled by pests or diseases. It does not sucker. No fall color.

The nuts are said to be well-flavored, but small and thick-shelled. That doesn't seem to trouble the birds and wildlife that relish them. This species is self-fertile, and in years of good nut production cleaning them up may add a maintenance task to an otherwise low-maintenance regimen.

I have one tree that has been growing for perhaps 15 years. It has a nice pyramidal form and is about 20 feet tall, but it hasn't bloome...Read Mored yet. It may be too shaded by other trees. I had hoped that a small hazelnut bush would serve as a pollen source for it, but I think I'll need a second tree hazel instead. It's growing in an area where the ground water is about 10 or 15 feet down, and it doesn't receive much supplemental water. It is competing with a Buartnut and a maple, as well as an Amur maple hedge, but it has remained healthy.

Very ornamental pyramid-shaped growth habit. Resistant to disease and drought problems. Two plants are needed for fruit to set. Grows ...Read Morein zones 4 - 8. Very adaptable plant.