Filbert, Purple Giant
Corylus maxima
Betulaceae - Birch

Description

Leaves: Similar to European filbert, but slightly larger (2" to 5" long); leaves fading from dark purple in springtime to green in summertime; with few fine soft hairs above and pubescence beneath; alternate; simple; somewhat circular to egg-shaped or heart-shaped, abruptly tapering to a point at apex, doubly toothed – often with lobes; petiole 1/4" to 1/2" long; deciduous.

Twigs/buds: Twigs brown, thin. Buds have purplish cast; lateral buds scaly.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers monoecious; male flowers are borne in large (2" to 3"), purplish catkins, blooming in late winter to early spring; female flowers inconspicuous. Fruit a nut; egg-shaped, 1/2" to 1-1/2" in length; enclosed in purplish, leafy, toothed involucre (bract) that extends beyond the end of the nut; grown commercially.

Bark: Dark brown to light green, furrowed to smooth, thick.

Wood: Not important; susceptible to decay.

General: Native to southeastern Europe and western Asia. A tough, large, round, shrubby tree; 15' to 25' tall. Moderately drought tolerant. Needs full sun and moist to dry and well-drained soil. Susceptible to aphids, mites, and various foliar diseases.

Landscape Use: Plant as a specimen, barrier, hedge, or in groupings. Some ornamental cultivars available with red to purple leaves, involucres, and catkins. Also try beaked filbert (Corylus cornuta), another shrubby filbert native to eastern U.S. and Canada. Zones 4-8.

Characteristics

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