Hazel Tree 80/100cm (5L)

The Common Hazel, also known in some parts of the country as Cobnut or Filbert is a lovely native tree that brings charm and wildlife value to gardens. In late winter, it puts on a magical show with long, dangling yellow catkins that dance in the breeze before the leaves appear. These catkins, often called ‘lambs’ tails’, are one of the first signs of spring. The large, heart-shaped leaves create a lovely green canopy through summer, turning warm buttery yellow in autumn. Growing as either a large shrub or small tree, it reaches about 4 metres tall if left unpruned. It’s brilliant for wildlife – birds nest in its branches, bees visit the catkins, and if you’re quick enough to beat the squirrels, you can gather the tasty nuts in autumn. The stems grow in a natural, multi-stemmed way that looks great in natural planting schemes or as part of a hedge. Young stems are bendy and perfect for garden projects like plant supports.

Hazel is one of the easiest native trees to grow. It’s happy in most soils and will grow in sun or partial shade, though it fruits better in sunny spots. No special pruning is needed if grown as a tree, but for a bushy hedge or for harvesting stems, cut it back hard in early spring. It responds really well to coppicing (cutting right back to ground level) every 5-7 years if you want to keep it compact or produce straight stems. A yearly mulch with garden compost helps keep the soil moist and feeds the tree.

Ultimate height
4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height
5–10 years

Ultimate spread
4–8 metres

Please note: Decorative pots shown are for display purposes only. Your tree will be supplied in a standard plastic nursery pot shown in the other pictures.