Technology Description
Leaves of ‘Burgundy Lace’ are dark reddish purple when young, are deeply incised and narrower than most European hazelnut cultivars, which have green leaves that are round-ovate and un-dissected. This results in a tree canopy that appears lacey and delicate. ‘Burgundy Lace’ inherited resistance from the cultivar ‘Gasaway’ to the Oregon race of Anisogramma anomala, the fungus that causes eastern filbert blight, the principle disease of hazelnuts in the United States. The growth habit and moderate vigor of ‘Burgundy Lace’ will make it easy to maintain in a landscape setting, as the tree will be under 35’ at maturity. To maintain a tree form, basal suckers must be removed several times per year. The red leaf color fades to green as leaves age, but leaf midribs, husks and young catkins retain their red color. Male catkins are dark red and are showy when blooming in late winter. Cold hardiness of ‘Burgundy Lace’ is expected to be suitable for USDA zones 4-8, but has not been tested.
Features & Benefits
Applications
Background of Invention
‘Burgundy Lace’ is a unique hazelnut selection for the ornamental landscape tree market. It is the only European hazelnut (Corylus avellana) cultivar in the nursery trade that combines dissected leaves (the cutleaf trait), red leaf color and resistance to the Oregon strain of eastern filbert blight (EFB). The tree is moderately vigorous and has a desirable upright-spreading growth habit that should be easy to manage in a landscape setting. ‘Burgundy Lace’ was selected at Oregon State University from a family of seedlings developed by crossing 2 half-sib selections, OSU 562.034 and OSU 562.062 in 1998. The nuts are small and the kernels are edible, but nut production will be minimal unless a second hazelnut cultivar is planted nearby to provide compatible pollen. The female flowers are inconspicuous, but the red male catkins are showy and provide very interesting appeal when blooming in late winter.