The Chilean hazelnut, a frost-resistant fruit tree

The Chilean hazelnut is a very interesting fruit tree to have in gardens and orchards that enjoy a temperate climate and even with cold winters; in fact, it can live and develop without having any kind of problem in areas where the temperature drops to -12ºC once established, which is very interesting, don’t you think?

If we talk about its maintenance, it does not require complicated or continuous care as long as the conditions in which it lives are adequate.

Characteristics of the Chilean hazelnut

Our protagonist, whose scientific name is Gevuina avellana, is an evergreen fruit tree (that is, it remains green throughout the year), whose height can be between 3 and 20 meters. Its leaves are bright green, and its flowers are grouped in long, axillary, creamy-white clusters. The fruit, the hazelnut, is an edible black nut.

Its cultivation and maintenance is simple, as I will tell you below. So much so that it is often planted in gardens in many parts of the world, such as those in Ireland or California.

Chilean hazelnut care

Image – Wikimedia/ Ercé

If you want to have a Chilean hazelnut, you must take the following into account:

Location

It is a tree that, due to the dimensions that it reaches once adult, and its needs, has to be placed outside, in semi-shade, protected by trees or high hedges, especially young, which is when it is most sensitive to cold, supporting only up to -4ºC. But, once it grows up, it can take a lot more.

Irrigation

The Chilean hazelnut does not withstand drought, but it does not like too much waterlogging. It is a plant that requires regular watering throughout the year, being frequent during the summer and somewhat less the rest of the seasons.

Water at sunset or first thing in the morning, so that on the one hand the tree can have more time to hydrate, and secondly so that you can save some water.

Use rainwater whenever you can, or without lime. In the event that you only have the tap and it is very hard, with a high concentration of lime, fill a container with it and let it rest overnight. The next day you can use the one in the upper half of said container, trying not to move the water too much.

Earth

• Garden: it must be fresh, rich in organic matter and well drained.
• Pot: it is not a plant that can be grown in a pot throughout its life, but during its youth. In the event that you are going to have it in one, fill it with a mixture of mulch and 20% perlite or similar.

Transplant

Whether you want to transfer it to the ground or to a larger pot, you should do it in spring, when the risk of frost has passed. You will know that it is time to transplant it when you see its roots come out of the drainage holes of the pot, or when it has already occupied it all to the point that its growth seems to have stopped.

Do it carefully not to manipulate its roots too much, because if it suffers damage it will cost more to overcome it. For this reason, the ideal is to water it conscientiously a day before, so that the grains of earth that form the substrate are more ‘together’ of each other, thus achieving that once you want to remove the plant from the pot, the root ball or earth bread does not crumble.

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In order for it to grow with health and strength, it is very interesting to fertilize it in spring and summer with organic fertilizers such as worm castings or horse manure.

If it is in a pot, you can use liquid fertilizers such as guano following the instructions specified on the product packaging.

Pruning

It is not necessary to prune the Chilean hazel tree, but it is advisable to remove dry branches, weak ones and those that are broken at the end of winter with pruning tools disinfected with a disinfectant or similar product, such as pharmacy alcohol, or dishwasher.

Multiplication

The Chilean hazelnut multiplies by seeds in spring, which can be sown in seedbeds with peat and perlite in equal parts. Place the seedbed outside, in semi-shade, and keep the substrate moist (not waterlogged).

If all goes well, they will germinate throughout the season.

Rusticity

It resists frosts down to -12ºC once adult and established, and high temperatures of up to 40ºC.

What uses does it have?

Image – Flickr/ Dick Culbert

It is a very beautiful plant, with multiple uses:

Ornamental

It can be kept as an isolated specimen, in alignments or in groups. It is a magnificent species, which provides good shade and, moreover, does not need much care.

Culinary

Its fruits are edible, and can be eaten as a dessert, or as a snack, either raw, cooked or boiled. They are a good source of vitamin E and beta-carotene, so your health will also benefit.

On the other hand, the honey produced with the nectar of its flowers has a pleasant flavor, consumed for example on toast.

Medicinal

Walnuts help fight cholesterol, and their oil is used to care for the skin for its antioxidant properties.

Wood

It is used in cabinetmaking, crafts and as an interior wall covering.

Have you heard of the Chilean hazelnut?