Turkish hazel
Corylus colurna · Betulaceae
📷 Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around turkish hazel and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to May, discrete catkins
- Adult size
- 15 to 20 m in height, spreading habit
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -20 °C
- Origin
- Asia Minor, Balkans, eastern Mediterranean regions
- Soil type
- Well-drained, fertile, neutral to slightly acidic
- Edibility
- Fruits (hazelnuts) are edible
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Byzantine hazel is hardy and tolerant, but appreciates rich, fresh soil to produce hazelnuts. Prepare the soil by working it with compost; water during dry periods in the first two years.
The common mistake
Passively waiting for a harvest: hazel produces better in groups (cross-pollination) or with a second plant; isolated, it produces little or nothing.
The pro's trick
Simple manual pollination: shake the male catkins in March over the female flowers if you only have one plant, or plant two different cultivars.
Care
Exposure
Plant your Byzantine Hazel in full sun or partial shade to optimize fruiting. It tolerates sunny positions well and loves natural light. Shaded exposure reduces hazelnut production and slows growth.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year of establishment to promote rooting. Once established, the tree requires only moderate watering, except during prolonged drought. Avoid waterlogging; hazelnuts prefer moist but well-drained soil.
Soil
Prepare fertile, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. Enriching the soil with compost or organic matter at planting time promotes good initial growth. Byzantine Hazel adapts to most soils, provided they are not compacted or too dry.
Pruning and training
Perform light pruning after fruiting (autumn-winter) to remove dead or crossing branches. During the first years, guide the main trunk structure. Prefer natural development, as the tree naturally forms a harmonious shape without intensive intervention.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is only necessary on poor soils. Use a balanced fertilizer or decomposed organic matter in autumn. Avoid excess nitrogen, which stimulates foliage at the expense of hazelnut production.
Diseases and pests
Byzantine Hazel is generally robust and not very susceptible to diseases. Watch for scale insects, aphids, and mites, particularly during warm periods. Good soil drainage and good canopy aeration prevent most fungal problems.
Did you know?
Byzantine Hazel is a wild parent of cultivated hazelnuts and was already valued in Antiquity for its flavorful, oil-rich hazelnuts. In modern-day Turkey and the Balkan regions, it ranks among the oldest domesticated fruit trees, appreciated both for its fruits and its hard wood used in carpentry and turning.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Silver birchBetula pendula
- Grey alderAlnus incana
- Dwarf birchBetula nana
- European Hop-hornbeamOstrya carpinifolia
- Italian AlderAlnus cordata
- River birchBetula nigra
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.