Description

(Purple filbert)

Family Betulaceae
Originating from S.E. Europe

A large, deciduous, upright shrub with seriously eye-catching dark purple, heavily textured leaves and purple-tinged catkins on bare branches in late winter/early spring. The nuts it produces (filberts) are edible and despite it’s prized value as an ornamental, are produced in reasonable quantities. Cutting stems back hard will ensure it continues to produce large, deep purple leaves. Alternatively it can be pruned into a small, single stemmed tree.
Grow in any reasonable soil in sun/part shade. Needs some sun to retain rich purple colour.