Corylus avellana Seeds | European Hazel
LATIN NAME: Corylus avellana
COMMON NAME: European Hazel
Plant Profile
Corylus avellana, commonly known as European Hazel, is a shrub in the birch family. The European hazel hazels upright, multi-stemmed shrub with broad, rounded, softly hairy leaves and long, yellow catkins that open in late winter before leaves, small, round, brown hazelnuts in fringed husks following and ripening through the autumn. Catkins hang like golden tassels, and nuts ripen into sweet kernels. It likes sun or part shade, and moist, well-drained soil. Its appeal to pollinating insects adds a second, ecological layer to its ornamental one. Add these qualities together and you have a species well worth a place in the garden.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Corylus avellana, a representative of the birch family with clear practical value. In birch family, hazels have a long, nutty record in studies of nut-bearing shrubs, and avellana species appears in research on wind-pollinated catkins and nut oils. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
European Hazel brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. In cold garden and woodland edge, the European hazel hazels autumn with round brown nuts. Sweet kernels serve fresh eating, baking and confections for generations, early catkins feed bees, and multi-stemmed shrub makes useful hedge. It grows well in moist, well-drained ground. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Hazelnuts are among the most heart-friendly nuts, rich in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, and hazel leaves and bark had folk astringent use in Europe.
Growing from Seed
Raising European Hazel from seed is straightforward. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, keep the sowing evenly moist, and give the pot or tray partial shade. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Being a shrub, it asks for a permanent spot and repays it yearly. It tolerates the sort of small mistakes every beginner makes.
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