Hazel
Corylus avellana
Also known as
Cobnut, Hazelnut, Stock Nut, Wood Nut, Common Filbert, European Hazelnut, Hale Nut, Barcelona-Nuts, European Filbert, Common Hazel, Filbert, Giant Filbert
Full Sun
Moderate care
Moderate watering
Frost Hardy
7a
USDA zone
-18°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
15m | Max | 5m |
2m | Min | 3m |
Fruiting
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
Unripe hazelnuts are green. As the nuts mature, they turn brown and fall from the tree. This occurs annually in mid-autumn. Pick up the fallen hazelnuts.
More images of Hazel
Hazel Overview
Hazelnuts are deciduous trees or shrubs, depending on how they are pruned. They produce delicious, rich nuts which fall from the tree in mid-autumn. This coincides with their leaves turning beautiful red and gold colours. The male flowers also add an interesting ornamental feature, as their dangling pale yellow catkins are a pretty, but unusual flower. Hazels are a host plant for the truffle - an expensive to purchase and rich-tasting mushroom.
Common problems with Hazel
Aphids, Oak root fungus, bacterial blight, bacterial canker, Hazelnut mosaic virus, nut weevil, powdery mildew, squirrels.
How to propagate Hazel
Cuttings
Possible to propagate by root cuttings but the success rate is low.
Layering
Tip layering - bend shoots into a V-shape and bury the lower parts in soil 20-25 cm deep, while the tips of the shoot are kept upright. Keep soil moist to promote root development at the V bend.
Suckers
By detaching suckers.
Special features of Hazel
Autumn colour
Leaves turn red and gold.
Hedge plant
Can be grown as a shrub and shaped into a hedge screen.
Attractive flowers
Yellow (male) and red stamens visible from small flowers (female).
Other uses of Hazel
Culinary
Edible
The kernel of the seed is edible, raw, roasted or in paste form. The kernels can be processed to produce praline or as an ingredient in confectionery and baked goods.
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