Corylus avellana Syrena - Common Hazel

Corylus avellana 'Syrena' is a Polish hazel variety that is as ornamental as it is delicious. It is a vigorous bush with purple foliage that catches the eye in spring. In February-March, its bare branches are adorned with yellow, pendulous catkins that sway in the slightest breeze. In late summer, delicious red hazelnuts can be harvested, easily spotted against the now green foliage or when they have fallen to the ground. The harvests are relatively regular, but to ensure a good yield, a pollinating variety such as 'Merveille de Bollwiller' or 'Cosford' will be necessary. 'Syrena' is considered a good pollinator for other hazelnut trees. This variety is susceptible to aphids.

Corylus avellana belongs to the Betulaceae family, just like the birch. It is native to temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. It is a small monoecious fruit tree, bearing separate male and female inflorescences on the same individual. The common hazel prefers light and slightly neutral soil, and is fairly fertile and not too dry.

Corylus avellana 'Syrena' is the result of open pollination, and this particularly hardy Polish variety has been marketed since 1969 in several European countries. The growth of this 'Syrena' variety is moderately fast during the first few years, and then it accelerates a bit. Ultimately, the bush reaches a height of 3 to 4 metres with a slightly smaller spread. Its branches are wide, it forms several small trunks from its crown, and its branches are curved. The large leaves of this variety measure up to 14 cm long and 11 cm wide. They are initially brown-red when young, then gradually turn brown-green and finally dark green. Their autumn colouration is reddish-yellow. Flowering occurs in two stages: in February-March, pale yellow male flowers appear, gathered in pendulous catkins that are 5 cm long and loved by bees. In the second stage, very discreet female flowers bloom in March-April. They are in the shape of a bud measuring 6 to 8 mm, partially concealing bright red stigmas. The dense foliage appears late in May and it gives the hazel its bushy appearance. Fruits form on relatively young plants, about 3-4 years after planting. They appear on one-year-old shoots, grouped in clusters of 2 to 5. They are achenes known as hazelnuts. They ripen in September or early October. When mature, the fruits of this variety easily fall from the bush. A red envelope protects their burgundy-coloured shell. The hazelnuts of 'Syrena' are round, medium-sized, and have a thin shell. Depending on the soil fertility, they can measure up to 2 cm in diameter.

This 'Syrena' hazelnut tree will delight enthusiasts of unique fruit trees. Easy to grow in ordinary soil, it adapts to many gardens. It is a beautiful bush that can be planted individually and is also commonly used as an informal hedge with other fruit-bearing hazelnut trees to ensure good pollination and a substantial yield. It can be planted alongside red elderberry, aronias, or a Lamarck's amelanchier, for example. A vigorous Clematis viticella can climb its branches.