Corylus fargesii

Corylus fargesii is a deciduous tree from China. Its common names include Chinese hazelnut and Farges filbert. It belongs to the birch family, Betulaceae. Wild trees grow in forests in mountain valleys. These sites lie at 2,625–9,843 feet [800–3,000 metres]. The tree takes its name from plant collector Paul Guillaume Farges. Seeds first reached the United States in 1996.

Garden trees can reach 50 feet [15.2 metres] tall. Wild trees may reach 130 feet [39.6 metres]. This fast-growing tree forms a dense, pyramid-shaped crown. It has a straight trunk and may form several stems. Its branches spread out sideways. Pale gray bark peels away to show tan and copper tones. Cream and cinnamon shades add interest when branches stand bare. The large, green leaves grow alternately along the stems. Each simple, egg-shaped leaf has a doubly toothed edge. Leaves turn yellow or gold before they fall.

Flowers appear in spring, sometimes on bare stems in March. North Carolina State also reports flowering in May. Each tree bears both male and female flowers. Wind carries the pollen. Reddish-brown male catkins hang down from the branches. The small female flowers sit at bud tips. Brown nuts form within long, tube-shaped husks. North Carolina State reports ripe nuts in August. Plants For A Future gives a later autumn harvest. Small mammals eat the seeds, including squirrels.

Grow this tree in full sun or partial shade. It accepts clay, loam, and sandy soils with good drainage. It also grows across acid, neutral, and alkaline soil conditions. Moist soil suits it, though it tolerates dry soil and drought. It withstands heat, humidity, and wind, but not salt spray. North Carolina State lists USDA hardiness zones 5–8. Its bark makes it useful as a specimen tree. It also provides shade in lawns and woodland settings. Winter gardens can feature its bare trunk and branches.

The species resists insects and diseases, including eastern filbert blight. Growers can raise it from seed or by grafting. Cuttings are hard to root. The seeds are edible raw or cooked. They also yield an edible oil. Unshelled nuts can keep for about a year in cool storage. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. That report does not establish safety for every pet.