Corylus × vilmorinii
Corylus × vilmorinii
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility[1, 2]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[1, 3]. Does well in a loamy soil[1]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[1], but it dislikes very acid soils[4]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[5, 1]. Corylus x vilmorinii is a tree of hybrid origin, unknown in the wild, that produces a large, edible seed and also has merit for growing as an ornamental[6]. It is especially decorative in late winter when its long pendulous pale brown catkins (15cm or more long) can be borne in such profusion that they give the tree the appearance of being draped in curtains[6] Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[1]. This species is a hybrid of garden origin, produced by crossing Corylus chinensis with orylus. avellana. The Chinese parent contributes a characteristic rounded nut with a slightly thinner shell than Corylus colurna. A relatively fast-growing species, it has become a robust, 6 metres tall specimen in 15 years from planting. This species does not produce suckers.
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame[7]. 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[7]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[7]. 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[PFAF]. This species is a hybrid and will not breed true from seed. Layering in autumn. Easy, it takes about 6 months[8, 2]. Hardwood cuttings. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Corylus+%C3%97+vilmorinii>
Pollinators
Wind
References
- [1]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
- [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [3]Nuts. — Howes. F. N. · Faber · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
- [4]Flora of the British Isles. — Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. · Cambridge University Press · 1962 · ISBN - ↩︎A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
- [5]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
- [6]Corylus x vilmorinii — Taylor N. & Kirkham T. · 2005 · https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1355-4905.2005.00496.x · ISBN 1355-4905 ↩︎
- [7]Growing from Seed. Volume 4. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1990 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
- [8]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
- [9]Plants for Human Consumption. — Kunkel. G. · Koeltz Scientific Books · 1984 · ISBN 3874292169 ↩︎An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎