Common Hazel.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Deciduous shrub

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

6 meters

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 8

Bloom time

Late winter to early spring

Care

Plant in a spot with well-draining soil and keep it consistently moist while it establishes. Watch for signs of stress like leaf scorch in extreme heat or wilting if the soil dries out completely. Pruning helps maintain a tidy shape and encourages better nut production.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first few years.

Feeding

Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring to support healthy growth.

Pruning

Prune in late winter to remove dead wood and thin out crowded branches.

Repotting

Repot only if container grown, otherwise focus on soil enrichment.

Soil

Loamy, well-draining soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Temperature

-30 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 40 to 80 years

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

The plant is not considered toxic to humans.

Children

The nuts pose a potential choking hazard for small children if not shelled properly.

Contact allergens

The fuzzy hairs on the leaves and catkins can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The windborne pollen is a common allergen for many people during the late winter and early spring.

Edibility

While the nuts are edible, ensure they are not moldy before consumption.

How to identify it

• Rounded, serrated, mid-green leaves
• Long, yellow male catkins in winter
• Small, inconspicuous female flowers
• Clusters of edible, papery-husked nuts
• Smooth, greyish brown bark

Height

3 to 6m

Spread

3 to 5m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, 2 to 5cm

Fruit

brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• Hazelnut BlightCommon
• Nut WeevilCommon
• Root SuckeringCommon
• CankerUncommon
• Leaf ScorchUncommon
• Powdery MildewUncommon
• Scale InsectsUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

seed, cuttings, layering

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

No special protection is needed as it is fully hardy. You can mulch the base to retain moisture for the coming spring.

In containers

It is generally too large for long term container growth unless using a dwarf cultivar in a very large pot.

Plant spring bulbs beneath the canopy to take advantage of the light before the leaves emerge.

Grows well with

• Primrose — They thrive in the dappled shade provided by the hazel canopy.
• Wood Anemone — These spring ephemerals bloom before the hazel leaves fully shade the ground.

Similar species

• Filbert — It is very similar but has a longer, more tubular husk around the nut.

Science

Family

Betulaceae

Genus

Corylus

Order

Fagales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe and Western Asia

Conservation

This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in woodland edges and hedgerows where it can access moderate light and well drained soils.

Value to wildlife

larval host plant, provides shelter for birds, food source for squirrels

Pollinators

bees

Uses

ornamental shrub, nut production, hedging, wildlife habitat

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need two trees for nuts?

Yes, you generally need two different varieties to ensure proper cross pollination.

When do I prune it?

Prune in late winter while the plant is dormant.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Corylus comes from the Greek word for helmet, referring to the husk of the nut. The species name avellana refers to the Italian town of Avella, which was famous for its hazelnut orchards.

Good to know

• Hazel wood was traditionally used for water divining.
• The nuts are a staple food for many woodland creatures.
• It is often coppiced to encourage straight, flexible stems for crafts.
• The catkins appear long before the leaves emerge.