If you’re looking for a tough, attractive, and low-maintenance tree that brings beauty and resilience to your landscape, the Turkish Filbert might be the perfect choice. While this lesser-known species is not native to the midwest, it’s gaining popularity in urban and suburban settings, including especially in the greater St. Louis area, thanks to its adaptability, hardy nature, pest resistance, and ornamental value.

Whether you’re a homeowner planning a new landscape or a property manager seeking hardy trees for commercial spaces, the Turkish Filbert can be an interesting, smart and sustainable choice.

What Is the Turkish Filbert?

The Turkish Filbert (Corylus colurna), also known as the Turkish Hazel, is a deciduous tree native to southeastern Europe and western Asia. It is the largest species of hazel and can grow up to 40–50 feet tall with a broad, pyramidal shape, making it a stately presence in both residential and commercial landscapes.

Unlike its smaller, shrub-like hazelnut relatives, the Turkish Filbert is a true shade tree with ornamental and practical benefits.

Key Characteristics:

• Height & Spread: 40 to 50 feet tall, 20 to 30 feet wide
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Foliage: Dark green, coarsely toothed leaves which turn yellow in fall
• Fruit: Small, edible nuts in decorative husks (not commercially grown for nut harvest)
• Bark: Attractive exfoliating bark as it matures, offering winter interest

Its refined shape, tolerance of urban stress, and pest resistance make it a top contender for tough planting sites commonly found in places such as St. Louis, St. Charles, and surrounding Missouri communities, where tree health can be challenged by compacted soils, air pollution, and fluctuating weather patterns.

Why Choose the Turkish Filbert for Your Landscape?

Adding a Turkish Filbert to your property comes with a number of benefits that go beyond aesthetics. Consider this species’ characteristics that make it worth considering for landscapes in the greater St. Louis area:

1. Urban Toughness

This tree thrives in challenging conditions, including drought, compacted soils, and air pollution, making it ideal for parkways, medians, and streetscapes throughout the greater St. Louis area. It’s also highly tolerant of clay soils, which are common throughout St. Louis and St. Charles counties.

2. Low Maintenance

Once established, the Turkish Filbert requires little pruning and is remarkably pest- and disease-resistant. It’s also less susceptible to common tree issues like anthracnose, scale, or borer infestations, each of which can kill or severely damage trees.

3. Ornamental Value

From its symmetrical form to its showy fruit and textured bark, the Turkish Filbert adds year-round interest to your landscape. The tree’s leaves create a dense canopy perfect for summer shade, while its nuts attract wildlife in the fall.

4. Great for Pollinators

In early spring, before leaves emerge, male catkins release pollen that supports native pollinators emerging from winter dormancy. While not a showstopper in bloom, it plays a quiet role in supporting biodiversity.

Is the Turkish Filbert Right for Your Property?

The Turkish Filbert is especially well-suited to:

• Urban landscapes and commercial properties
• Residential yards where a medium-to-large shade tree is needed
• Sites with poor or compacted soil
• Landscapes with full sun exposure

However, there are a few considerations. The nuts, though not produced in high volumes, may require occasional cleanup in high-traffic areas. And due to its size, it’s not ideal for small yards or planting too close to structures.

At Hansen’s Tree Service, we can help assess your site and determine whether the Turkish Filbert is the right tree for your goals and growing conditions.

Tree Care Tips for Turkish Filbert

Although the Turkish Filbert is a low maintenance species, every tree benefits from some care, especially in its early years. Here’s how to help your Turkish Filbert thrive:

• Watering: Water deeply during the first two years after planting to establish strong roots.
• Mulching: Apply two to three inches of mulch around the base, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk.
• Pruning: Minimal pruning needed, but occasional shaping can help maintain structure.
• Soil: Adaptable to most soils but avoid sites with standing water.

If you’re unsure about planting, caring for, or pruning your Turkish Filbert, our certified arborists are here to help with expert guidance.

Add Long-Term Value to Your Landscape with Turkish Filbert

Choosing the right tree is about looks, and it’s about long-term health, sustainability, and performance. The Turkish Filbert checks all these boxes, making it a strong candidate for landscapes throughout greater St. Louis area and beyond.

At Hansen’s Tree Service, we’re proud to help local homeowners and property managers make informed planting decisions that enhance curb appeal and support a thriving urban forest.

Need Help Choosing or Caring for a Turkish Filbert?

Our certified arborists are here to help you select, plant, and maintain trees that are right for your site and your vision. If you’re interested in planting a Turkish Filbert, or want to assess the health of your current trees, schedule a consultation with Hansen’s Tree Service today. We proudly serve the St. Louis metro area, including St. Charles County, St. Louis County, and surrounding communities.

Call us today or make an appointment online; let’s plant something great together.