Turkish Hazel
Scientific name: Corylus colurna
Overview
Turkish Hazel is a medium to large hardwood tree native to southeastern Europe and parts of western Asia. Unlike the more familiar common hazel, which typically grows as a shrub, Turkish Hazel develops into a substantial timber-producing tree with a straight trunk and well-formed crown.
The wood is dense, fine textured, and attractive, with light brown to reddish-brown coloration and a smooth appearance. While rarely encountered in commercial lumber markets, it is valued for specialty woodworking, turning, carving, and collector specimens.
Within the European hardwood cluster, Turkish Hazel represents one of the largest and most timber-worthy members of the hazel family, offering characteristics that distinguish it from the smaller shrub-like hazel species commonly found throughout Europe.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Turkish Hazel
- Scientific Name: Corylus colurna
- Region: European Hardwoods (Southeastern Europe)
- Tree Size: 50–80 ft tall, 2–4 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 43 lbs/ft³ (690 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: Approximately 1,250 lbf
- Color: Light brown to reddish brown
- Grain: Straight to slightly irregular
- Texture: Fine and uniform
Identification Characteristics
Turkish Hazel is identified by its warm brown coloration, fine texture, and smooth grain structure. The wood often resembles other fine-textured European hardwoods but typically exhibits a more subtle and uniform appearance.
Finished surfaces are smooth and attractive, with a moderate natural luster that highlights the wood’s even texture.
Key identification traits include:
- Light brown to reddish-brown coloration
- Fine, uniform texture
- Straight to slightly irregular grain
- Smooth finished appearance
- Moderate natural luster
- Subtle grain figure
- Consistent coloration
- Moderately dense feel
Working Properties
Turkish Hazel is generally easy to work and responds well to both hand and machine tools. Its fine texture allows for precise machining and clean finished surfaces.
- Machines easily
- Works well with hand tools
- Turns cleanly
- Carves well
- Produces smooth finished surfaces
- Sands effectively
- Accepts stains and finishes well
- Good dimensional stability
Safety Note
Wood dust from Turkish Hazel may cause irritation in sensitive individuals. Proper dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended during woodworking operations.
Common Uses
Turkish Hazel common uses including:
- Woodturning
- Carving
- Small furniture components
- Decorative woodworking
- Craft items
- Tool handles
- Cabinet details
- Specialty joinery
- Collector wood samples
- Educational collections
Sustainability & Notes
Turkish Hazel is widely planted throughout Europe as both an ornamental and urban landscape tree. The species is valued for its adaptability, drought tolerance, and resistance to many environmental stresses.
Commercial timber production remains limited because the species is more commonly planted for ornamental purposes than for lumber. Most woodworking material originates from landscape removals, storm damage, or specialty sources.
The tree also produces edible nuts similar to those of other hazel species, although it is generally cultivated more for its ornamental qualities and durable growth habit.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Field Maple – A smaller European hardwood prized for its fine texture, workability, and use in specialty woodworking.
European Hornbeam – Another fine-textured European hardwood valued for strength and specialty woodworking applications.
European Pear – A dense, smooth-textured hardwood commonly used for carving, turning, and decorative projects.
Related Guides
How to Start a Wood Collection
Learn how to begin building a structured wood sample collection, including sourcing, sizing, and organizing your first specimens.
Best Woods for Outdoor Use
Explore which wood species perform best in exterior environments exposed to moisture, insects, and weather.
Understanding Wood Grain
Learn how grain orientation affects appearance, machining characteristics, and finishing performance.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Turkish Hazel samples are valued because they represent one of the few tree-sized members of the hazel family capable of producing significant timber. The wood’s fine texture, attractive color, and relative rarity make it an interesting addition to European hardwood collections.
The species is especially appealing to collectors seeking to document uncommon hardwoods and expand representation of lesser-known European tree species beyond the traditional commercial timbers.
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Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
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