Corylus avellana Purple Umbrella - Hazel

Corylus avellana 'Purple Umbrella' is a hazel bush with an evocative name. It is a very attractive small variety, with a trailing crown that forms an "umbrella" of purple foliage. In February-March, its bare branches are adorned with long pendulous catkins in a soft antique pink, swaying in the slightest breeze. Then its superb violet-purple foliage appears, which will become slightly greener in the heart of summer. Don't count on 'Purple Umbrella' to offer you a bountiful hazelnut harvest, as it bears fruit very little! However, it is a beautiful plant to grow in a small garden or in a large container on the terrace.

Corylus avellana 'JM 251' is a horticultural selection from the Hungarian breeder Józsa Miklós, introduced to the market in 2015 under the trade name 'Purple Umbrella'. It belongs to the Betulaceae family. The common hazel is native to temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. It is a small monoecious fruit tree, bearing separate male and female inflorescences on the same individual. The common hazel prefers light and neutral soil, fairly fertile, not too dry.

Corylus avellana 'Purple Umbrella' is grafted onto a trunk that can measure 1.20 to 1.50 m in height. This trunk is covered with grey bark. Its crown, more or less wide and regular, is composed of trailing branches. Its young hairy branches are purple, and they are covered with a light brown bark that will become very dark over time. The flowering occurs in two stages: in February-March, the male flowers appear, gathered in long and beautiful pendulous catkins coloured in old pink, loved by bees. In the second stage, the very discreet female flowers open in March-April. They have the shape of a bud measuring 6 to 8 mm, partially concealing bright red stigmas. The abundant foliage appears late in May. The leaves are round, strongly veined, and 6 to 10 cm long. Their predominantly purple colour, becomes slightly greener in summer for mature leaves. The foliage turns orange-yellow in autumn before falling off.

This 'Purple Umbrella' hazel will delight enthusiasts of unusual small trees. Easy to grow in ordinary soil, it is highly resistant to cold and tolerates limestone. Its small size is perfect for small gardens. It can be used as a standalone specimen or mixed with small bushes and perennial plants. This variety is also well suited for growing in a large pot. To enhance its beauty, plant a carpet of small periwinkles or white-flowered yarrows at its base, for example. Also consider early tulips like 'Albert Heijn' and grape hyacinths to accompany its early flowering.