Do I need two trees to get nuts?

Yes, you generally need two different varieties to ensure cross pollination for a good harvest.

How fast does it grow?

It is a moderate grower, typically adding 1 to 2 feet of height per year.

Plant guide

Common Hazel.

Corylus avellana

Pronounced KOR-ih-lus ah-vel-LAY-nah

Also known as Barcelona-nuts, Cobnut, Common Filbert, Common Hazel, European Filbert, European Hazel, European hazelnut, Filbert

The common hazel is a lovely deciduous shrub or small tree native to Europe and western Asia. It is widely prized for its edible nuts and its attractive, catkin-bearing branches in late winter. This plant thrives in woodland settings and makes a great addition to informal gardens.

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: medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Late winter to early spring

Care

Plant in a spot with well draining soil and provide plenty of space for its natural spread. Watch for signs of nutrient deficiency or pests like aphids, and prune to maintain shape or encourage nut production. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during dry spells in the summer.
Feeding: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring to support growth.
Pruning: Prune in late winter to remove dead wood and open up the center.
Repotting: Repot only if container grown, otherwise it prefers being planted in the ground.
Soil: Loamy, moist, well draining
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -25 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 50 to 80 years.
Deer and rabbits: low

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth despite regular feeding.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: The plant is not considered toxic to humans.
Children: The hard shells of the nuts pose a potential choking hazard for small children if not cracked open first.
Contact allergens: The fuzzy hairs on the leaves and catkins may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The windborne pollen is a significant allergen for many people during the early spring flowering season.
Edibility: While the nuts are edible, always ensure they are properly harvested and free from mold before consumption.

How to identify it

Rounded, heart shaped, serrated green leaves
Long, pendulous yellow male catkins
Small, inconspicuous female flowers
Edible nuts enclosed in leafy husks

Height: 3 to 6m
Spread: 3 to 5m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 2 to 8cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Common problems

Hazelnut weevil — Small beetles that lay eggs in developing nuts, causing them to drop prematurely.
Hazel blight — A fungal infection that causes cankers on stems and can lead to branch dieback.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, layering, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant is fully hardy and requires no special protection during winter. You can prune out dead or crossing branches while the plant is dormant.
In containers: It is generally too large for long term container growth unless you choose a dwarf cultivar and use a very large pot.

Layering

1. Bend a low growing branch down to the soil.
2. Pin the stem into the ground and cover with soil.
3. Wait for roots to form at the buried node.
4. Sever the new plant from the parent once established.

Plant spring ephemerals beneath the hazel to take advantage of the light before the leaves fill in.

Grows well with

Primrose — They thrive in the dappled shade provided by the hazel canopy.
Bluebell — These spring bulbs bloom before the hazel leaves fully emerge.

Keep away from

Walnut — The walnut tree produces chemicals that can inhibit the growth of nearby hazel bushes.

Similar species

Filbert — It is closely related but features a much 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 uses its suckering habit to colonize gaps in the canopy.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, nesting cover, seed source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: culinary nuts, ornamental hedging, basketry materials, wildlife habitat

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need two trees to get nuts?: Yes, you generally need two different varieties to ensure cross pollination for a good harvest.
How fast does it grow?: It is a moderate grower, typically adding 1 to 2 feet of height per year.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Corylus comes from the Greek word for helmet, referring to the husk that covers the nut. The species name avellana refers to the Italian town of Avella, where the trees were historically cultivated.

Good to know

Hazel wood was historically used to make divining rods for finding water.
The nuts are a favorite food source for squirrels and jays.
Hazel trees can live for over 80 years if managed well.
The catkins are often called lambs tails due to their soft, dangling appearance.

Is your common hazel looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.