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Common Name: Turkish hazel
Type: Tree
Family: Betulaceae
Zone: 4 to 7
Native Range: Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, western Asia
Height: 40 to 80 feet
Spread: 30 to 50 feet
Bloom Time: March
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Description: Yellow (male)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Flowers not Showy
Fruit: Showy Fruit, Edible Fruit
Uses: Shade Tree, Street Tree
Culture
Grow in acidic, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Tolerates average soils, but not unamended heavy clays. Newly planted trees need consistent moisture. Once established in the landscape, trees tolerate drought. Suckering may occur. Generally tolerant of urban conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Native from southeastern Europe to western Asia, Turkish hazel or Turkish filbert is a pyramidal deciduous tree that grows to 40-50’ (less frequently to 80’) tall. The trunk is short with dense, horizontal, low branching. Double-toothed, broad ovate to obovate, semi-glossy, bright green leaves (to 5” long) have hair on the veins beneath. Leaves turn variable but usually unexceptional shades of yellow in fall. Corky, mottled, tan to gray bark on mature trunks may flake to reveal an orange-brown inner bark. Monoecious flowers appear in catkins in spring. The male catkins (to 3” long) are not individually showy, but cumulatively can provide much interest in a March landscape. Tiny female catkins are largely hidden. Edible nuts appear in clusters of 3-6 with spiny and hairy involucre husks covering and extending beyond each nut. Nuts may be roasted and eaten, but are commonly left for the squirrels. This tree may be difficult to find in commerce. Other common names include Constantinople hazel and tree hazel. The filbert nuts produced in commerce come from hybrid plants (C. avellana x C. maxima).
Plant of Merit
Turkish hazel is a pyramidal deciduous tree to 40-80 feet tall that is noted for its short stout trunk with low, horizontal branching. Mature trees provide dense shade for the landscape. Corky, ridged, tan-gray bark may flake with age to reveal orange-brown inner bark. Drooping, yellow, male catkins provide excellent color in March prior to the emergence of the leaves. Double-toothed, broad-ovate, semi-glossy, bright green leaves turn yellow in fall. Edible nuts in clusters of 3 to 6 are encased in spiny husks. Nuts may be roasted and eaten or left for the squirrels.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Garden Uses
Attractive specimen for residential lawns. Shade tree. Street tree (unless nut litter is considered a problem). Naturalized areas. Dry sites.