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Corylus avellana - L.

Common Name Common Hazel, Common filbert, European Filbert, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, Corkscrew Hazel, Hazel
Family Betulaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Woods and hedgerows, especially on the slopes of hills, often on calcareous soils[7, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Spain and east to W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (5 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Corylus avellana Common Hazel, Common filbert, European Filbert, Harry Lauder


Corylus avellana Common Hazel, Common filbert, European Filbert, Harry Lauder
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Summary

Bloom Color: Brown. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. May also be known as: Aveleira, Avelinier, Avellana, Avellano, Coudrier, European Filbert, European Hazel, Haselnuss, Haselstrauch, Hazel, Hazel Nut, Noisetier, Noisetier Commun, Noisetier du Japon, Noisette, Noisettes. Form: Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Corylus avellana is a deciduous Tree growing to 6 m (19ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from January to April, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil  Oil  Seed
Edible Uses: Milk  Oil  Oil

Seed - raw or roasted and used in breads, cakes, biscuits, sweets etc[2, 5, 9, 12, 13, 34, 183]. An excellent nut for raw eating[K]. They can also be liquidized and used as a plant milk[183]. Rich in oil. The seed ripens in mid to late autumn and will probably need to be protected from squirrels[K]. When kept in a cool place, and not shelled, the seed should store for at least 12 months[K]. A clear yellow edible oil is obtained from the seed[7, 9, 183]. It is used in salad dressings, baking etc.

References   More on Edible Uses

Composition
Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.
Seed (Dry weight)
  • 650 Calories per 100g
  • Water : 0%
  • Protein: 16g; Fat: 60g; Carbohydrate: 20g; Fibre: 4g; Ash: 2.8g;
  • Minerals - Calcium: 250mg; Phosphorus: 400mg; Iron: 4mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 2.1mg; Potassium: 900mg; Zinc: 0mg;
  • Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.3mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0.5mg; Niacin: 5.3mg; B6: 0mg; C: 6mg;
  • Reference: [ ]
  • Notes:

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Astringent  Diaphoretic  Febrifuge  Miscellany  Nutritive  Stomachic  Tonic


The bark, leaves, catkins and fruits are sometimes used medicinally[7]. They are astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge, nutritive and odontalgic[7]. The seed is stomachic and tonic[240]. The oil has a very gentle but constant and effective action in cases of infection with threadworm or pinworm in babies and young children[7].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Basketry  Charcoal  Cosmetic  Hedge  Hedge  Miscellany  Oil  Oil  Plant support  Polish  Tannin  Wood

The seed contains up to 65% of a non-drying oil, used in paints, cosmetics etc[13, 46, 57, 132]. The whole seed can be used to polish and oil wood[6]. It is very easy to apply and produces a nice finish[K]. The finely ground seeds are used as an ingredient of face masks in cosmetics[7]. Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[29]. They need to be left untrimmed or only lightly trimmed if seed is required[29]. The bark and leaves are a source of tannin[7]. Wood - soft, easy to split, not very durable, beautifully veined. Used for inlay work, small items of furniture, hurdles, wattles, basketry, pea sticks etc[7, 13, 23, 46, 61, 63, 66, 125]. The twigs are used as dowsing rods by water diviners[11]. The wood also yields a good quality charcoal, used by artists[63, 101].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Carbon Farming  Food Forest  Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Global Crop  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Staple Crop: Protein-oil

Landscape Uses:Container, Standard, Specimen. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility[11, 200]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[11, 63]. Does well in a loamy soil[11]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[11], but it dislikes very acid soils[17]. Succeeds in a pH range 4.5 to 8.5, but prefers a range of 5 to 7[200]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[1, 11]. A very hardy plant, succeeding in all areas of Britain[200]. The flowers, however, are produced in late winter and early spring and can be damaged by heavy frosts at this time[200]. A parent, together with C. maxima, of many cultivated forms of filberts and cob nuts. There are many named varieties[11]. Plants are self-fertile but a more certain crop is obtained if more than one cultivar is grown[200]. The main difference between cob nuts and filberts is that the husk of a filbert is longer than the seed and often completely encloses it, whilst the husk on a cob nut is shorter than the seed[200]. Squirrels are a major pest of this plant, often decimating the crop of nuts[200]. Often grown as a coppiced shrub in woodlands, the stems have a variety of uses[23, 67, 186]. Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[11]. A food plant for the caterpillars of many lepidoptera species[30]. Special Features:Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. A clumping plant, forming a colony from shoots away from the crown but with a limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2].

Carbon Farming

  • Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world. The annual value of each is more than $1 billion US Examples include coconuts, almonds, and bananas.
  • Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Staple Crop: Protein-oil  (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame[164]. Germinates in late winter or spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked in warm water for 48 hours and then given 2 weeks warm followed by 3 - 4 months cold stratification[164]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[164]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or sheltered place outdoors for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[K]. Layering in autumn. Easy, it takes about 6 months[78, 200]. Division of suckers in early spring. Very easy, they can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Corylus americanaAmerican HazelTree3.0 4-8  LMHSNM312
Corylus avellana pontica Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM403
Corylus chinensisChinese HazelTree24.0 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Corylus colurnaTurkish Hazel, Chinese hazelnut, Turkish Filbert, Turkish HazelTree20.0 4-7 SLMHSNM313
Corylus cornutaBeaked Hazel, California hazelnut, Turkish Filbert, Turkish HazelShrub3.0 4-7  LMHSNM313
Corylus cornuta californicaCalifornia HazelShrub8.0 4-8  LMHSNM304
Corylus fargesii Tree15.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Corylus feroxHimalayan Hazel, Tibetan hazelnutTree10.0 7-10  LMHSNM202
Corylus heterophyllaSiberian FilbertTree7.0 4-8  LMHSNM314
Corylus hybrids & neohybridsHybrid & Neohybrids, Hazel, FilbertShrub25.0 4-9 MLMHSNM525
Corylus jacquemontiiIndian Tree HazelTree25.0 6-9  LMHSNM30 
Corylus maximaFilbert, Giant filbertShrub6.0 4-8  LMHSNM505
Corylus sieboldianaJapanese Hazel, Manchurian hazelShrub5.0 5-9  LMHSNM301
Corylus sieboldiana mandschuricaHairy hazel, Japanese hazelnut,Shrub4.5 5-9  LMHSNM301
Corylus tibetica Tree15.0 6-9  LMHSNM20 
Corylus x colurnoidesTrazelTree15.0 0-0  LMHSNM300
Corylus x vilmoriniiChinese TrazelTree25.0 4-8  LMHSNM20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1117200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

R. Byler   Thu Oct 12 2006

Can I move the corylus avellana after being planted for several years?

Ken Fern   Mon Oct 16 2006

I've moved a 10 year old tree in the past, and it had no problems re-establishing. Very often, though, it is easier to just dig up some of the suckers that are usually produced and transplant those.

robert cochrane   Tue Mar 4 2008

this indiginous can also be used for fencing

edward   Sun Jan 24 2010

Hazel isn't a big tree and, although it depends what "several years" means, it shouldn't be an issue to transplant a medium sized, established tree. To make your job easier, it would make sense to give it a good prune first - you can coppice right down to the "stool" if you like. This means that the reduced root system will have less tree above ground to support while it re-establishes, increasing the chance of survival.

Ashridge Trees - Hazel Trees More about Hazel

   May 7 2012 12:00AM

A useful boundary plant on my allotment

Matrix showing cross-pollination of a number of popular Corylus avellana cultivars.   Sep 14 2012 12:00AM

Orange Pippin Fruit Trees - Hazel pollination

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