Consulta Plantas

Care of the tree Corylus avellana or Common hazel

The genus Corylus, family Betulaceae, includes 15 species of trees and shrubs native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Some species are: Corylus avellana, Corylus maxima, Corylus colurna.

Common name: Common hazel. This species is native to Europe and western Asia.

They are small deciduous trees or shrubs that reach 6 meters (19.68 feet) in height. They have round leaves, with doubly serrated tips and edges; the leaves take on a nice yellow color before falling from the plant. They produce male flowers in the form of hanging catkins 8 cm (3.14") in length before the leaves appear. The female flowers are dark buds with reddish stigmas.

The fruits, hazelnuts, contain more than 50% oil as well as proteins and sugars. This oil is used for food and paint manufacturing. Hazelnuts are harvested in late summer or early fall when the shell turns brown.

They are used as fruit trees (they produce fruits after 6 years of life) and to form bushy groups, to form hedges and as isolated specimens. There are very decorative varieties such as the Corylus avellana pendula (hanging size) or the Corylus avellana aurea (with yellow spots on the leaves). They are very long-lived plants that can live for several centuries.

The Corylus avellana needs full sun or semi-shade exposure and cool temperatures. They resist cold and frost.

The ideal soil should contain abundant humus (oak soil, for example) and be well drained. Planting is done in autumn.

Water abundantly so that the substrate is always humid but never flooded. They do not resist drought.

Fertilize with manure in mid-autumn and with mineral fertilizer 3 times: together with the manure, during flowering and when it begins to sprout.

They only need pruning in the first 2 years of life to give them shape.

They can be attacked by insect caterpillars that eat their leaves.

They propagate by seeds, by layering in spring or by grafting.

Images of the tree Corylus avellana or Common hazel