Corylus cornuta aka Beaked Hazelnut

Taxonomy

Corylus cornuta, also known as the beaked hazelnut or beaked hazel, is a deciduous shrubby hazel found throughout most of North America. It has two subspecies and can grow up to 4-8 meters tall with smooth gray bark and green, rounded oval leaves that are coarsely double-toothed. The plant produces male catkins in the fall that pollinate single female flowers the following spring to allow the fruits to mature through the summer season. The fruit is a nut enclosed in a husk with a tubular extension resembling a beak. Although the nuts are small, they are edible. The beaked hazel is hardy and can survive temperatures as low as -50°C. The seeds are dispersed by jays and rodents, and the plant resprouts fairly readily after fire. In California and Oregon, American Indians used fire to encourage hazelnut growth as they used hazelnuts for food, baskets, medicine, and other purposes. The Western Beaked Hazel, which belongs to the Corylus genus, is a rare houseplant that requires regular watering and long-lasting, direct light. It needs soil that is well-draining and should be less than one foot from a window. It is native to Canada and the United States.

Common names

Beaked Hazelnut, Beaked Filbert, Beaked Hazel

How to care for Beaked Hazelnut

Difficulty

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Beaked Hazelnut due to its easy-going nature.

Water

Beaked Hazelnut should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Beaked Hazelnut loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Beaked Hazelnut prefers bright diffused light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

The toxicity level of this plant has not been officially confirmed by Ploi. If there is a possibility of ingestion of plant material with an uncertain toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a medical professional.

Fertilizer

Repotting the Beaked Hazelnut is necessary either when it has doubled in size or once every year, whichever happens first. With fresh potting soil replenished annually, the plant will receive all the necessary nutrients, rendering the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that the source of a plant's energy is the sun, not fertilizer.

Region of origin

Beaked Hazelnut’s native range is Eastern and Central N. America.


More info:
Wikipedia