The Farges Filbert is a small deciduous tree native to China that was named after botanist Paul Guillaume Farges who was an early 20th century French missionary and plant collector. Although it has been described as early as the late 1800's, its seeds were not introduced into the United States until 1996. In its native habitat, which includes mountain valley forests, it can reach heights of up to 130 feet tall. In the landscape, it will grow to 50'. The bark from the Farges Filbert is its most attractive feature. The cream to cinnamon colored peeling bark makes this a perfect choice as a specimen in the landscape. It blooms in May and fruits follow and ripen in August. The fruits as well as oils extracted from the fruits are edible. When properly stored in a cool environment in their shell, the fruits can last up to a year. An early bloomer, flowers can occur on bare stems as early as March. The reddish-brown male flower is a 2-4" catkin that hang from the branches. The female flowers are almost invisible, therefore insignificant. Most reproduction is accomplished through seed and grafting, as this tree proves to be difficult to propagate by cuttings. Unlike many other trees, this species is resistant to the fungus Eastern Filbert Blight. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Disease and insect resistant.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Horizontal; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Doubly Serrate; Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The large leaves are toothed and typically disease free.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Cream/Tan
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Catkin
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Male and female flowers both appear on the same plant. The reddish-brown male flowers appear in the form of drooping catkins, 2-4" long. The female flowers can be found at the tip of the bud and are barely visible.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a hard shelled nut which is edible. The 1/2" fruits form in a 2-4" tubular sheath.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
The silvery gray bark flakes off to reveal tan/copper colored bark, quite attractive.
Stem detail
Straight trunk and often multistemmed with horizontal branching.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China
Wildlife value
Small mammals feast on the seeds.
Attracts
Small Mammals
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Seeds
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
The seeds and oils derived from this tree are edible.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Landsxape
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Woodland
Landscape theme
Edible Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden; Winter Garden