Description
Canada Only due to export restrictions
I`ve been watching this lucky find over the years. I go to the single isolated tree early summer to find it loaded, then by early Sept, there was only a few nuts to be had. This year we visited mid-late August to find the nuts starting to slip out of their husks. No wonder I always missed nut collection. In field cut tests proved an exceptionally high nut set of well filled kernels. There are no other hazelnuts of any kind in the vicinity (and I looked) proving this is reliably self fertile. Of course this will cross pollinate with other Corylus species and cultivars thus improving nut set.
Being a C. maxima, the nuts are wedge shaped. Kernels are well filled in the shell. Taste is sweet with a slight earthy tone when raw. No doubt it has the same heart healthy oils as other hazels.
There is no sign of any pest or disease problems with this robust multi stemmed mature shrub. Bark is a grayish colour.
- Collection Date: Aug 2024
- Self fertile
- Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Height and Width: 5m x 6m
- Preferred sites: full-semi sun; well draining moist garden soils
- Germination test type: hand sort-smash
- Family: Betulaceae
How to germinate Corylus seeds:
Soak in very warm water 24 hours with a couple of warm water changes just to keep the temperature up. If you are able to submerge them its best. Many tiny bubbles will indicate air/water displacement as seed soaks up. Place soaked up nuts in a resealable baggie containing screened fine bark mulch or similar. Cold stratify for 3 months. Give gentle warmth once cold stratification cycle is over. Keep an eye on the nuts as they can sprout rather quickly and it’s best to transplant them when the root is no longer than 2-4 cm. I prefer growing them in a communal pot to save space and to protect them from raiding rodents. Provide strong indirect light and warmth. If any do start sprouting while in cold stratification it’s perfectly okay to transplant them, just make sure they don’t freeze as this messes up their growing mojo.
