Red Filbert Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra' (F)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Not blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The plant in question, commonly known as the red-leaved hazel, significantly stands out due to its distinctive foliage. Each leaf is broadly rounded with a heart-shaped base and a pointy tip, but unlike the typical green of classic hazel varieties, these leaves take on a rich burgundy to deep purple tone. The color intensity can vary within the foliage, creating a striking visual contrast. In the spring, this unique plant produces catkins that dangle elegantly, adding motion and texture to the display. As the seasons change, small, inconspicuous flowers may appear. When pollinated, these develop into the recognizable hazelnuts encased in a leafy, fringed husk. The red-leaved hazel carries an ornamental appeal that provides a stunning highlight within gardens, drawing attention with its colorful leaves and adding a sense of depth when paired with other plants.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Betulaceae.
- Synonyms
  Red Filbert, Red-Leaved Hazelnut, Purple-Leaved Hazelnut, Redleaf Hazelnut.
- Common names
  Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra', Corylus avellana var. rubra, Corylus maxima 'Purpurea', Corylus avellana 'Atropurpurea', Corylus avellana 'Red Majestic'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The plant commonly known as the Red Filbert is not known to be toxic to humans. While the nuts produced are edible, the shell, leaves, and bark do not have any known toxicity when ingested. Therefore, there are typically no symptoms of poisoning associated with the Red Filbert for humans.
- To pets
  The Red Filbert plant, while not toxic to humans, also does not generally pose a poisoning risk for common household pets such as dogs and cats. There are no known toxins in the plant that affect pets, which means ingesting parts of the Red Filbert plant should not cause any significant symptoms of poisoning or serious consequences in pets. However, it is always best to exercise caution and prevent pets from ingesting plants indiscriminately.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Height
  15 6 [4.7 m]
- Spread
  13 1 [4 m]
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  4
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Value: The Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra', commonly known as Red Filbert, adds aesthetic appeal to gardens with its distinctive red or purple foliage, catkins, and nuts.
- Wildlife Attraction: Provides food and habitat for a variety of wildlife, including birds and small mammals that feed on its nuts.
- Shade and Windbreak: Can be used in landscaping to provide shade and act as a natural windbreak.
- Seasonal Interest: Offers visual interest throughout the seasons with changing leaf colors, attractive fall foliage, and decorative catkins in winter.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Red Filbert is relatively drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering under normal conditions.
- Soil Improvement: The fallen leaves decompose and enrich the soil with organic matter, improving soil fertility over time.
- Erosion Control: Its root system helps to stabilize soil and prevent erosion on slopes and banks.
- Edible Nuts: Produces hazelnuts that are edible for human consumption, allowing for home-grown nut harvesting.
- Adaptability: Red Filbert is adaptable to a range of soil types and conditions, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings.
- Low Maintenance: Requires relatively low maintenance once established, with minimal pruning and care needs.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Wildlife shelter: The dense foliage of Hazel 'Fuscorubra' can provide nesting sites and protection for birds and small mammals.
- Natural fencing: Hazelnut branches are strong and flexible, making them suitable for creating woven fences or living hedges.
- Coppicing material: Hazel is well-suited to coppicing, a method of woodland management, which can produce a sustainable supply of wood.
- Artistic medium: The colorful foliage and twigs can be used in floral arrangements and art projects.
- Educational tool: Hazel 'Fuscorubra' is a great plant to introduce children and students to botany and plant propagation techniques.
- Dye production: The leaves and bark can be used to produce natural dyes for fabrics or crafts.
- Photography subject: The distinctive red foliage and catkins can be an interesting subject for nature photography.
- Windbreaks: Planting Hazel 'Fuscorubra' as a windbreak can protect gardens and crops from strong winds.
- Soil stabilization: The root system can help to prevent soil erosion on slopes and banks.
- Eco-friendly packaging: Fallen leaves and husks can be repurposed as biodegradable packing materials.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Hazelnut tree is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Hazelnut tree is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Wisdom: Traditionally, hazel trees, including Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra' or the red-leafed hazelnut, have been linked to wisdom and knowledge due to their association with ancient wisdom traditions where hazel wood was thought to possess magical properties.
- Protection: In folklore, hazelnut trees were often considered symbols of protection as hazel wood was used to make talismans to ward off evil spirits.
- Fertility: The hazelnut has been connected with fertility, owing to the abundant production of nuts and the use of hazel branches in early marriage rituals and customs.
- Inspiration: Hazel is linked to inspiration, particularly within the realm of creative arts, as the Celtic druids believed that hazelnuts could imbue one with heightened inspiration and artistic revelation.
- Reconciliation: Some cultures regard the hazelnut as a symbol of reconciliation, suggesting that a relationship can be mended or that peace can be restored, much like how the perennial nature of the tree represents continual growth and renewal.

💧

Every 2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Not needed

Repotting

🌱️

Late winter

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The common name for Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra' is Purpleleaf Filbert or Red Filbert. It prefers consistent moisture, but it is important not to overwater as this can lead to root rot. During the growing season, water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, which may mean watering once a week. The amount of water will vary depending on weather conditions and soil type, but as a general rule, aim for approximately 1 to 1.5 gallons per week. During the dormant season, reduce watering frequency as the plant's water needs decrease.
Light
Purpleleaf Filbert thrives best in full sun to partial shade. The ideal spot for this plant would be one where it receives at least four to six hours of sunlight daily, though it can tolerate some shade during the afternoon. Avoid placing it in deep shade, as insufficient light can hinder growth.
Temperature
Purpleleaf Filbert is hardy and adapts to a range of temperatures. It can withstand winter cold down to about minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the summer months, it can tolerate heat as long as it is well-watered. Ideally, the plant should be kept in an environment where the temperature ranges from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal growth.
Pruning
Prune the Purpleleaf Filbert in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Pruning is necessary to maintain the desired shape, remove any dead or diseased branches, and encourage airflow through the plant which can reduce pest and disease issues. Prune lightly each year, cutting back to a healthy bud or branch, and remove no more than one-third of the plant at a time to avoid stress.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for the Red Filbert, the common name for Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra', should be well-draining and rich in organic matter. A blend of loam, sand, and compost would foster healthy growth. This plant prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH, typically around 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
The Red Filbert, usually grown as an outdoor shrub and not commonly repotted, can be planted in the ground and will not require repotting. If grown in containers, repotting should occur every couple of years or when it becomes root-bound.
Humidity & Misting
The Red Filbert is adaptable to a wide range of humidity conditions and does not require any specific humidity level. It thrives outdoors where the humidity fluctuates naturally.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Not ideal for indoors; needs space, sun.
- Outdoor
  Plant in well-draining soil, full sun or partial shade.
- Hardiness zone
  4-8 USDA
Life cycle
Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra,' commonly known as the Red Filbert, begins its life as a dormant seed, which after stratification, germinates in the spring. Upon sprouting, the seedling grows into a young plant, developing distinctive reddish-purple leaves, a sign of this cultivar. As a deciduous shrub, it enters a vegetative growth phase throughout the spring and summer, establishing a strong root system and woody stems. By its second or third year, the Red Filbert reaches maturity and produces catkins (male flowers) and small red female flowers, leading to pollination and the subsequent development of hazelnuts enclosed in a husk. After nut production in the fall, the plant enters dormancy again during the colder months. Yearly cycles of growth, flowering, and nut production continue throughout the plant's life, which can span several decades under optimal conditions.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late winter
- Corylus avellana 'Fuscorubra', commonly known as the Purple-leaved Filbert, is typically propagated through a method known as hardwood cuttings, which is most popularly carried out in the winter months when the plant is dormant. To propagate with hardwood cuttings, a healthy, mature branch is chosen and cut into sections approximately 6 to 8 inches long (15 to 20 centimeters). Each cutting must have several nodes, which are the points where leaves are attached during the growing season. The bottom end of the cuttings is then dipped in rooting hormone to stimulate root growth and planted in a well-draining soil mixture. The cuttings should be kept moist and in a cool environment until roots develop, which could take several months. This method enjoys a fair success rate and allows gardeners to propagate new plants that are true to the parent's characteristics.