Description
Corylus colurna is commonly called the Turkish Hazel. A close relative of the Cobnut/hazel that we find growing wild in the United Kingdom. As its name suggests it is a native of South Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, It was introduced in this country in the middle of the sixteeenth century.
The Turkish Hazel is a deciduous tree with large broadly oval leaves. It has a fascinating fruit/nut that is covered with unusual ‘spines’ which are held in small clusters.
Growing accross such a wide are means that it is able to tolerate a wide range of conditions from the hot dry summers and cold winters of central Europe and the wrm and wet winters of western Europe. They are able to cope with drought and waterlogging making them a very good canditate for planting in the currently changing climate.
If allowed to grow untrained they can make large stately trees. When kept down and trained as a screening panel they make an intereting and different focal pint in a scheme.