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Hazelnut

Corylus avellana

Fruit treeDeciduousFrost Hardy

The common hazel is a large, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa that flowers with yellow-brown catkins in February–March. Its edible nuts ripen around September and fall from their husks.

Overview

Height3.7–7 m
Crown diameter2.5–7 m
Root systemShallow-rooted
ShadeDense shade
SunFull Sun
WaterMedium
HardinessUSDA zones 4–8
Chilling requirement100–1550 hours between 0 and 7 °C

Seasons

Flowering (Central Europe)Feb, Mar
Harvest (Central Europe)Aug, Sep

Planting time for bare-root trees. Container trees can be planted whenever the soil is workable.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

None

Bad Companions

None

Only relations with a documented cause are listed.

Toxicity

SeverityNon-toxic

Not poisonous; the nuts are edible (tree-nut allergy is a separate issue).

Planting Tips

LocationSunny, open site for good nut yield (wind-pollinated); avoid frost pockets and valley bottoms, flowers and fruit set suffer below about -8 °C.
SoilDeep (at least 1.5 m), loose, loamy, nutrient-rich soil without compaction, pH about 6–7; the root system is prone to suffocation in waterlogged soil.
WateringAbout 800 mm rainfall per year is optimal; with less, irrigate, especially young plants and after spring planting.
FertilizingAvoid excessive nitrogen; potassium and magnesium support strong plants. Adjust feeding or compost in spring based on need; lime if pH is too low.

Care Tip: Plant compatible pollinator cultivars with long or matching flowering times; shallow soil cultivation only, as the fine roots are near the surface. Suckers renew the shrub continuously.

Sources