Corylus americana
| Corylus americana | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Corylus americana (common name: american hazel)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame[1]. Germinates in late winter or spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked in warm water for 48 hours and then given 2 weeks warm followed by 3 - 4 months cold stratification[1]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or sheltered place outdoors for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[K].
Layering in autumn. Easy, it takes about 6 months[2][3].
Division of suckers in early spring. Very easy, they can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils including chalk, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility[4][3]. It does well in a loamy soil[4][3]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[5][4].
This species is cultivated in America for its edible seed, there are some named varieties[6][7]. This species is of little value in Britain, however, rarely bearing seeds[4].
Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[4].
Range: Eastern N. America - Maine to Georgia, west to Saskatchewan and Oklahoma.
Habitat: Thickets and rich woods[8][9].
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked in soups, bread, biscuits, sweets etc[10][11][7]. The nuts have a thick shell with a small sweet kernel[7], they make an excellent dessert[K]. Nuts at the 'milk' stage (before they are fully ripe) are softer and sweeter[7]. The seed is rich in oil. The seed ripens in mid to late autumn and will probably need to be protected from squirrels[K]. When kept in a cool place, and not shelled, the seed should store for at least 12 months[K].
An edible oil is obtained from the seed,
Medicinal: A tea made from the bark is astringent[12]. It was used in the treatment of hives and fevers[12][13]. A poultice made from the bark is used to close cuts and wounds, treat tumours, old sores etc[12][13].
Usage: The plant makes a good screening hedge[9].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ Howes, Frank. Nuts. Faber, 1948.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.