Corylus colurna – Turkish Hazel Tree

A handsome, naturally pyramidal deciduous tree for avenues, estates, broad lawns and substantial urban landscapes.

Corylus colurna combines a straight trunk and dependable architectural crown with textured corky bark, spring catkins, heart-shaped foliage and yellow autumn colour.

Product Highlights

• Strong pyramidal crown when young

• Broadens attractively with maturity

• Excellent specimen and avenue tree

• Straight trunk and formal landscape character

• Decorative corky mature bark

• Long spring catkins

• Fringed autumn nut clusters

• Yellow to golden-yellow autumn foliage

• Fully hardy

• Good urban tolerance

• Drought tolerant once established

• Low routine maintenance

Product Information

Feature / Details
Botanical name: Corylus colurna
Common name: Turkish hazel
Family: Betulaceae
Plant type: Large deciduous tree
Mature height: Approximately 15–25 metres
Mature spread: Approximately 8–15 metres
Growth rate: Moderate
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Soil types: Chalk, clay, loam and suitable sand
Drainage: Well-drained
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Foliage: Large, heart-shaped green leaves
Autumn colour: Yellow to golden yellow
Flowers: Yellow-brown catkins
Fruit: Nuts enclosed within fringed husks
Maintenance: Low once established
Wildlife value: Good

Suitable For

• Large gardens

• Estates and parkland

• Formal avenues

• Broad driveways

• Urban and commercial landscapes

• Large residential developments

• Architectural planting schemes

• Substantial lawn specimens

• Roadside planting with adequate soil volume

When We Would Not Recommend It

Corylus colurna is unlikely to be appropriate for:

• Small or narrow gardens

• Confined courtyards

• Positions beneath overhead cables

• Permanently waterlogged ground

• Sites without adequate rooting volume

• Locations requiring evergreen screening

• Paved areas where nut and husk fall would be unacceptable

• Public spaces where nut-allergy risk cannot be managed

Size and Supply Form

Available sizes vary seasonally and may include feathered, standard, heavy-standard, rootballed, container-grown and semi-mature trees.

Please refer to our specimen tree sizes explained guide before ordering.

For help choosing between younger and more established stock, see mature trees versus younger trees.

Rootballed trees are generally supplied during the cooler planting season, while container-grown trees provide a wider planting window where irrigation is available. Learn more in our rootball versus container-grown guide.

Planting Requirements

Plant in full sun or partial shade, allowing substantial space for the crown and roots to develop.

The root flare must remain visible at finished soil level. Secure the tree appropriately and water thoroughly after planting.

Regular watering is essential during establishment. Drought tolerance applies to established trees and should not be taken to mean that newly planted stock can be left without irrigation.

Read our tree planting and establishment guide for detailed aftercare information.

Larger trees may require specialist transport, lifting and anchoring. Our specimen-tree delivery and planting service is available throughout North West England.

Pruning and Maintenance

Protect the central leader and carry out limited formative pruning while the tree is young. Once established, pruning should normally be restricted to damaged, crossing or structurally unsuitable branches.

Avoid unnecessary hard pruning, which can spoil the natural crown and create large wounds.

See our RHS Pruning Group 1 guide for relevant minimal-pruning principles.

Wildlife and Practical Considerations

Spring catkins provide pollen, while nuts may supply food for birds and mammals. The canopy also provides shelter and potential nesting habitat.

Nut production varies and is not guaranteed. Fallen nuts, fringed husks, catkins and leaves create seasonal litter.

Hazelnuts can cause severe allergic reactions. Consider this carefully when specifying the tree beside schools, communal facilities, busy pedestrian areas or other sensitive public spaces.

For native wildlife planting, hedgerows or coppice-style growth, consider Corylus avellana – common hazel.

Our Recommendation

We recommend Corylus colurna for substantial gardens, avenues and urban landscapes where its mature dimensions have been properly accommodated.

It is especially valuable when a project requires strong pyramidal form, a reliable central trunk and greater tolerance of urban conditions and summer dryness than many traditional large deciduous trees.

Contact us with your postcode, preferred size, site photographs and access information for current availability, delivery pricing and planting recommendations.

Delivery and Professional Planting

We can install specimen trees at any of the in following postcodes;

BB, BL, CH1 - CH5, CW8, CW9, FY, L, LA1 - LA6, M, OL, PR, SK1 - SK12, WA, & WN.

Please do not purchase if you want the hedging installed outside this area. If you do live outside the area, then please give us a call on 01942 604976 and we can see if it’s possible to do this.

For more information on the tree see the tree specification below. For more information about delivery, access and planting, see the guide below or click here.