How to grow Corylus colurna ‘Te-Terra red’
This small hazel tree grows to around 20ft. In the spring the foliage is wine-red but, like all purple-foliage hazels, the leaves fade to green. A two-tone effect appears in the summer when the wind blows and ruffles the more mature green leaves amongst the youthful purple foliage. By autumn, the foliage of the ‘Te-Terra red’ is completely green. Once the tree has matured, the bark cracks providing interest in the winter also.
Growing Tips
There are 10 deciduous species of hazel in the Northern Hemisphere. They are either shrubby or small trees. Colurna is the only commonly grown hazel to form a trunk.
Hazels are wind-pollinated. The male catkins are slim, long and full of pollen. The wind then carries this down to the smaller female stigmas, which often look like small, red sea anemones. However, most are self-sterile and need pollen from other trees. Hazels thrive in many soils and can even do well in chalk.
Good Companions
The native hazel produces a flourish of soft, green leaves as spring takes hold and the early spring flowering plants would partner well. Good varieties include the blue ‘Robinsoniana’ and the neatly formed, double white ‘Vestal’.
If there are any further questions regarding Corylus colurna then please contact us and we will be happy to help, even if your inquiry is about gardening in general.