Corylus avellana Rode Zellernoot - Common Hazel

Corylus avellana 'Rode Zellernoot', also known as Corylus avellana 'Rotblättrige Zellernuss', is a versatile hazel variety, cultivated for its ornamental character and fruit production. In winter, its bare erect branches bear pendulous pink-purple catkins, followed by bright red young shoots and large purple leaves in spring, turning bronze-green in summer. Its fruiting is abundant, large-sized and tasty. Its hazelnuts appear from early September, white then light brown with involucres forming remarkable light red to reddish-brown fringed skirts. Hardy and tall, it is an excellent variety for fruit hedges or for planting in the back of a flower bed with pink flowering. Plant it in full sun or partial shade in preferably rich and moist, well-drained, not too dry soils. 

Corylus avellana belongs to the Betulaceae family, just like the birch. It is a small monoecious fruit tree, bearing male inflorescences distinct from female inflorescences on the same individual. The common hazel prefers light and rather neutral fertile soil, that is not too dry.

Also called 'Rote Zellernuss' in German or 'Red Zellernut' in English, it is an old cultivar that was obtained before 1887. It is one of the few varieties that has both ornamental and fruit interest. The shrub develops upright, not very bushy branches. Fast-growing, it will reach about 6 m (19.7 ft) in height and 4 m (13.1 ft) in width. It can live for about 60 years. Its young hairy branches are dark purple in colour, with a light brown bark that becomes very dark over time. The flowering occurs in two stages: in January-March, reddish-purple male flowers appear, gathered in pendulous catkins of 5 cm to 7 cm (2 in to 2.8 in) long, which are popular with bees. Insignificant female flowers bloom in March-April. They have the shape of a bud, partially concealing bright red stigmas. The foliage appears late in May. The leaves are rounded, strongly veined, slightly crisped and curled, measuring 8 cm to 10 cm (3.1 in to 3.9 in) long. The young shoots are bright red in colour before turning purple and then bronze-green in summer. Very productive, it produces fruits on 1-year-old shoots in mature individuals. The fruits are quite large and of good flavour. These are achenes called hazelnuts. They are white and become light brown when ripe, surrounded by large involucres, fringed and intensely coloured in light red to reddish-brown. Grouped in 1 to 4, they measure 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter and mature in early September.

It forms a beautiful focal point in the garden during winter, allowing you to admire its bare branches displaying large pendulous purple catkins. Easy to grow in ordinary soil, it is not recommended for excessively dry situations. It is obviously magnificent when planted as a specimen tree, especially in winter when its unique silhouette emerges against a leaden sky. It is also commonly used in mixed hedges with other fruit cultivars to ensure good pollination and a substantial yield. You can imagine a blue-flowered clematis (Clematis alpina or integrifolia) spreading at the foot of an already mature tree while climbing on its branches. Gardening enthusiasts looking for curiosities can also grow, in a large garden, the unique Robinia Tortuosa. Use its branches covered with pink-red catkins in your winter bouquets, or its leafy branches in all your compositions.