Corylus cornuta californica
| Corylus cornuta | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 26' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Corylus cornuta californica (common name: california 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, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility[4][3]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[4][5]. Does well in a loamy soil[4]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[4], but it dislikes very acid soils[6]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[7][4].
Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[4].
Range: South-western N. America.
Habitat: Damp slopes and banks below 2100 metres in California[8].
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked[9]. Eaten fresh or preserved for winter use[10]. 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.
Usage: A fibre is obtained from the inner bark and is used to make paper[11]. The branches are removed in the autumn, the leaves removed and the branches steamed then the fibre is removed[11]. The fibres are cooked for two hours with lye and then put through a blender[11]. It makes a brown paper[11]. The fibre is also used for cordage[11].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Also Known As: C. californica. (A.DC.)Sharp. C. rostrata californica.
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 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Howes, Frank. Nuts. Faber, 1948.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Munz, David. A California Flora. University of California Press, 1959.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Bell, Lilian. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press, 1988.