Corylus avellana - Common Hazel

Corylus avellana,or hazel, is a monoecious fruit tree (male and female fruits on the same plant). The male flowers appear on the plant in summer and open in February-March. They are pendant catkins of yellow colour and measure 4cm (2in) long. They are very decorative. The female flowers bloom in March-April. They have the shape of a bud measuring 6 to 8mm (1in) with bright red stigmas.

The deciduous foliage occurs in May. It gives the hazel its bushy appearance. Tender green, the leaves measure from 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in). The fruits are achenes, which are called hazelnuts. They are yellow-green and then turn brown when ripe. Grouped in 1 to 4, they measure 2cm (1in) in diameter. Harvesting is done at the end of August, beginning of September.

This hazel bush comes from Europe, Asia Minor and Algeria. It has a rapid growth rate and can reach 5m (16ft) at maturity and live up to 60 years. It is a very hardy shrub. It can be grown both as a standalone plant and in groups. It is used as an informal hedge or windbreaker. In Europe, it is commonly found as a bonsai. The hazelnut tree gets its name from Avelino, which is an Italian city known for its hazelnuts.

It is provided to you as a bare-root young plant in a small size to be able to create cost-effective hedgerows or mixed hedges.