Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Mid to late spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 7m
Eventual Spread: 7m
Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b
Family: Betulaceae
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla Flower (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla is a vigorous, deciduous large shrub or small multiple stemmed tree. Its mid green leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptic with an irregularly or double serrate margin, finely hairy on its lower surface along its veins and glabrous on its upper surface, up to 13cm long and 10cm broad. The leaves turn yellow in autumn before they fall. Its branches are pubescent with white lenticels. Its bark is gray and deeply fissured, forming irregular plates. Its flowers are monoecious with the male inflorescence in the form of pale yellow catkins held in pendulous clusters of up to 5. The female inflorescence is in the form of red catkins held in clusters of up to 6. Its fruit is an ovoid to globose nut up to 1.5cm in diameter.
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla Nut (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla, commonly known as Asian hazel or Siberian Hazel, is native to eastern Asia, including China, Japan, Korea and Russia. In its native habitat it grows in forest margins and mountain slopes in thickets. Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla is synonymous with Corylus avellana var. davurica.
The etymological root of the binomial name Corylus is from the Latin name for Corylys avellana. Heterophylla is derived from the Greek eteros meaning ‘differing’ and phyllus meaning ‘leaf’.
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla Leaf (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
The landscape architect may find Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla useful as a large shrub or small tree with edible fruit for use in a community garden.
Ecologically, Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla fruit is eaten by some species of birds and mammals, including humans.
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla Bark (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It prefers alkaline soils and will not tolerate very acid soils.
Corylus heterophylla var. heterophylla requires little maintenance.