Corylus maxima 'Kentish Cob' (F) | filbert 'Kentish Cob'

RHS 2002

Synonyms

Corylus maxima 'Lambert's Filbert'
Corylus 'Hazel Kent Cob'
Corylus maxima 'Grote Lambertsnoot'
Corylus maxima 'Longue d'Espagne'

Shrubs Fruit Edible

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
17 Suppliers

A large deciduous shrub with broad green leaves. Pendulous, pale yellow catkins are followed by an edible nut. This is a reliable filbert with a good flavour; growing at least 2 cultivars ensures cross pollination

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Betulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Corylus are deciduous trees and large shrubs with broad leaves, and showy male catkins in early spring, followed by edible nuts
Name Status: Accepted
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit

How to Grow

Cultivation

For fruit production, grow as a goblet-shaped bush. Keep clear soil in a 60cm radius around trunk

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding in mid- to late summer or grafting onto clonally produced rootstocks or seedlings in late winter.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Wildflower meadow
Low Maintenance
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Brutting or breaking sideshoots half way along their length in August followed by shortening the brutted shoots to 3-4 buds when the catkins are shedding pollen in late winter. When necessary remove up to one third of old overcrowded shoots to the main branches

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars, gall mites, aphids and sawflies. Squirrels like to feed on the nuts

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, silver leaf and powdery mildews