Corylus avellana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KO-ril-us a-ve-LAH-na
- Description
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Corylus avellana is a large deciduous shrub that is commonly known as the European Hazel. It is native to the British isles, western Asia, and as far south as the Iberian peninsula. It is famous along with other species of the genus Corylus for its production of hazel nuts (cobnuts) though avellana is the most commonly used for production. It enjoys full sun conditions and produces suckers which may need to be pruned. The shrub produces a thicket of multiple shoots which can grow out of hand if not pruned.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Contorta'
- 'Fuscorubra'
- 'Red Majestic'
Cultivar with purple-red foliage
- 'Contorta'
- 'Contorta', 'Fuscorubra', 'Red Majestic'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Contorta'
- 'Fuscorubra'
- 'Red Majestic'
Cultivar with purple-red foliage
- 'Contorta'
- 'Contorta', 'Fuscorubra', 'Red Majestic'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Corylus
- Species:
- avellana
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and Western Asia
- Edibility:
- Hazel nuts (cobnuts) are edible and this plant is used in the production of these nuts.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Yellow-brown male catkins
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Twisting and winding shoots that form a thicket
