Hazel     Corylus avellana

Family    Corylaceae

Description

Deciduous shrubs and small trees frequently coppiced and used for hedges. Many superstitions associated with hazel from Celtic times.

Height max 6m Max age 70-80years if not coppiced to allow re growth.

Habitat

Not acid soils. Often found as understorey in oak woodlands.

Natural Distribution

All of British Isles and Europe, West Asia and North Africa.

Flowers Feb-May          Leaves May-Sept       Nuts ripe Oct- Nov

Catkins very distinctive in February when nothing else is in flower or leaf vast amounts of pollen are dispersed by the wind

Propagation and growth

From seed - dispersion aided by birds and animals classic example being squirrels storing underground  Easily grown from nuts kept cool and moist till spring.

Timber

White to reddish, tough and flexible when seasoned very hard. Was and is extensively coppiced providing long sticks for a variety of uses such as cask hoops, basketry, walking sticks, hurdles, wattle and daub construction, thatching materials and divining rods. Good firewood.