Corylus

The genus Hazel, or Hazel (Corylus), includes more than 15 species of resistant deciduous shrubs and trees. The leaves are double-rowed-regular simple broad-oval pubescent. Male and female flowers are collected in separate inflorescences formed on the same plant: male, from numerous flowers, in drooping buds-catkins bloom in early spring, usually a little earlier than small nondescript female. Before the leaves open, the male flowers loosen and dust for several days. In place of the latter, round or oblong fruits are formed - a single-seeded nut with a woody shell surrounded by a leaf-shaped wrapper. The most famous species is common hazel (Corylus avellana), a valuable nut-bearing crop, a shrub 2-5 m high. The trunk branches from the base and is covered with brown bark. Dense and large foliage is dark green in summer, bright in autumn, yellow and red hives, very decorative. Red-leaved forms are especially beautiful. Female flowers are small, nondescript, blooming from February to March. Fruits, nuts, are collected together in several pieces, they are different in shape, from round to egg-shaped, wrapped in a fringed fruit wrapper. In addition to fruit varieties, numerous decorative varieties are bred: slow-growing 'golden' with light yellow leaves; 'Twisted' with twisted branches; 'Multi leaved' (or' Lobed', or' Oak-leaved') with small, separate leaves. Hazel tree (C. colurna), called "bear walnut", is a tree with a height of 10-30 m with a straight trunk covered with a very decorative gray rough bark, a nut-bearing and ornamental plant with valuable, reddish wood. The leaves are dark green and broad. Yellow male flowers are collected in catkins, blooming in February. The fruits are completely covered with toothed fruit wrappers. Large-fruited hazel, or Lombard nut (C. maxima), is a shrubby species similar to common hazel, from which it differs in larger leaves and larger and elongated ovate fruits with fruit wrappers twice as long as the fruit. The 'Purple' variety with leaves of intense purple color is also common. Types and forms of hazelnuts grown in orchards and on plantations are called hazelnuts.

The genus Hazel, or Hazel (Corylus), includes more than 15 species of resistant deciduous shrubs and trees. The leaves are double-rowed-regular simple broad-oval pubescent. Male and female flowers are collected in separate inflorescences formed on the same plant: male, from numerous flowers, in drooping buds-catkins bloom in early spring, usually a little earlier than small nondescript female. Before the leaves open, the male flowers loosen and dust for several days. In place of the latter, round or oblong fruits are formed - a single-seeded nut with a woody shell surrounded by a leaf-shaped wrapper.

The most famous species is common hazel (Corylus avellana), a valuable nut-bearing crop, a shrub 2-5 m high. The trunk branches from the base and is covered with brown bark. Dense and large foliage is dark green in summer, bright in autumn, yellow and red hives, very decorative. Red-leaved forms are especially beautiful. Female flowers are small, nondescript, blooming from February to March. Fruits, nuts, are collected together in several pieces, they are different in shape, from round to egg-shaped, wrapped in a fringed fruit wrapper. In addition to fruit varieties, numerous decorative varieties are bred: slow-growing 'golden' with light yellow leaves; 'Twisted' with twisted branches; 'Multi leaved' (or' Lobed', or' Oak-leaved') with small, separate leaves.

Hazel tree (C. colurna), called "bear walnut", is a tree with a height of 10-30 m with a straight trunk covered with a very decorative gray rough bark, a nut-bearing and ornamental plant with valuable, reddish wood. The leaves are dark green and broad. Yellow male flowers are collected in catkins, blooming in February. The fruits are completely covered with toothed fruit wrappers.

Large-fruited hazel, or Lombard nut (C. maxima), is a shrubby species similar to common hazel, from which it differs in larger leaves and larger and elongated ovate fruits with fruit wrappers twice as long as the fruit. The 'Purple' variety with leaves of intense purple color is also common.

Types and forms of hazelnuts grown in orchards and on plantations are called hazelnuts.

Cultivation

Hazel is grown in the open ground as an ornamental and nut-bearing plant. It is planted in a permanent place in the ground in autumn or spring (in areas with cold winters). All types are shade tolerant. Hazel requires fertile (when planting, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers, manure, at the rate of 2-3 kg per plant) and well-drained soil. In the first years of life, it is pruned, shortening approximately half of the branches of the previous year. The bush can be shaped like a vase or left to grow in its natural form as a root-spreading plant. Then it is pruned regularly to limit grow and maintain a neat appearance. When pruning, remember that nuts are formed on the branches of the current year, so thinning should be reasonable. Also remove all dry, damaged branches and tops (outgrowths formed at the base of the plant without flowers).

Location

Hazel can be planted in the open sun, in partial shade, in the shade, preferably in a place protected from the wind.

Temperature

Plants can easily tolerate both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

Hazelnuts are usually quite resistant to drought. Therefore, watering is required only in particularly dry periods, primarily for young plants immediately after planting in the ground.

Reproduction

It is propagated by seeds, root offspring, layering, grafting. The easiest way is to separate the rooted offspring in the fall. The resulting parts are immediately planted in a permanent place on the site. You can also sow seeds (in October-November) in a special groundcover in a closed, unheated room. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into new pots one at a time. At this stage of development in spring and summer, once every 20 days, a complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 10-20 g per bucket. They are finally planted in the ground after 2 years. This method is not allowed to propagate varieties and decorative forms.

Diseases

Powdery mildew and brown spotting are particularly dangerous diseases. Among the pests, the greatest damage is caused by the walnut weevil, walnut purple leaf beetle, hazel aphids, false shields, hazel bud mite, hazel cattail gall, hazelnut hazel barbel. Less trouble with powdery mildew (oidium), which is eliminated with sulfur and karathane. As for pests, they are disposed of with the help of appropriate insecticides.

Acquisition

Hazel is very easy to find in specialized nurseries and gardening centers. Choose small, but already well-formed seedlings, they are easier to plant in the ground.