Corylus Avellana Bare Root

Corylus avellana, commonly known as Hazel or Common Hazel, is a versatile and valuable native British shrub or small tree that deserves a place in every garden. This deciduous plant is cherished for its beautiful winter catkins that herald the approach of spring, its delicious edible hazelnuts (also called cobnuts or filberts) in autumn, and its attractive, textured foliage throughout the growing season. Steeped in British folklore and wildlife value, hazel has been cultivated for thousands of years for its flexible stems used in hurdle-making, basketry, and walking sticks. Easy to grow, tolerant of most conditions, and offering multi-seasonal interest plus harvestable nuts, Corylus avellana is an excellent choice for wildlife gardens, edible landscapes, woodland plantings, and traditional hedgerows.

Key Features

Hazel offers exceptional value through multiple seasons and uses. In late winter (January-March), long before most plants show signs of life, elegant pale yellow male catkins—known as "lamb's tails"—dangle from bare branches, creating a beautiful display and providing vital early pollen for bees and other insects. The inconspicuous female flowers, appearing as tiny red tufts on the same plant, develop into clusters of hazelnuts encased in distinctive leafy bracts. The nuts ripen in autumn, providing delicious edible crops for humans and essential food for wildlife, particularly squirrels, jays, woodpeckers, and nuthatches.

Throughout summer, the shrub produces attractive, rounded, softly hairy leaves with serrated edges that create a lush, textured appearance. In autumn, the foliage turns beautiful shades of butter yellow before falling. The multi-stemmed structure creates an attractive, naturalistic form, whilst the smooth, grey-brown bark with horizontal lenticels adds subtle winter interest. As a native British plant, hazel supports an extraordinary diversity of wildlife—more than 70 species of insects are associated with it, plus numerous birds and mammals.

Growing Conditions

Corylus avellana is remarkably adaptable and thrives in a wide range of conditions throughout the United Kingdom. It performs well in full sun to partial shade, though full sun produces the heaviest nut crops. The shrub tolerates quite deep shade, where it will still grow successfully though nut production may be reduced. Hazel isn't particularly fussy about soil type and grows happily in clay, loam, or sandy soils, from acidic to alkaline conditions, though it prefers reasonably fertile, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Being a native British plant, it's completely hardy and withstands severe frost, cold winds, and exposed positions. It tolerates urban pollution, coastal conditions (though not salt-laden winds directly on the coast), and difficult sites admirably.

Hazel is notably tolerant of competition from other plants and performs well beneath deciduous trees or in woodland edges, making it valuable for layered planting schemes. It prefers areas with adequate rainfall but, once established, shows reasonable drought tolerance.

Size and Growth

Corylus avellana naturally forms a multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree that typically reaches 4 to 6 metres in height with a similar spread when left to grow freely, though it can reach 8-10 metres in ideal conditions over many years. However, hazel's true versatility lies in its response to management—it can be maintained at virtually any size through pruning or traditional coppicing. Growth is moderate to vigorous—approximately 30-60 centimetres per year depending on conditions—meaning it establishes reasonably quickly.

When grown as a standard tree with a single trunk, it develops a broad, rounded canopy. As a multi-stemmed shrub, it creates a dense, bushy habit. When coppiced (cut to ground level periodically), it produces multiple straight stems highly valued for traditional crafts. For hedging, hazel can be maintained at 1.5-3 metres or higher. This adaptability to various forms and sizes makes hazel suitable for gardens from small to large. Bare root plants establish readily when planted during the dormant season and typically show good growth in their first spring.

Planting Your Bare Root Hazel

Plant bare root Corylus avellana between November and March, during the dormant season before buds break. Upon arrival, unpack plants immediately and soak the roots in a bucket of water for 3-6 hours, or overnight if they appear particularly dry, to rehydrate them thoroughly. Choose your planting position carefully, considering the eventual size and whether you'll be managing growth through pruning or coppicing.

For specimen trees or large shrubs, dig a planting hole at least twice the width of the root system and deep enough that the plant sits at the same level it was previously growing—look for the soil mark on the stem or stems. Break up compacted soil at the bottom of the hole with a fork. Mix generous amounts of well-rotted compost or manure into the excavated soil to improve fertility and structure. Position the plant, spread the roots naturally in all directions, and backfill with the improved soil, firming gently as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly with at least two full watering cans.

For larger specimens (over 1.5 metres), install a supporting stake at a 45-degree angle, securing with a proper tree tie that allows for growth and some natural movement. Check and loosen ties regularly as the plant grows.

For hedging: Dig a trench 45-60 centimetres wide and deep enough to accommodate roots comfortably. Space plants 45-60 centimetres apart for a dense hedge, or 75-100 centimetres for a more open, traditional hedgerow. Incorporate organic matter into the trench and backfill around plants, firming well. Water thoroughly.

For nut production: Space plants at least 4-5 metres apart to allow adequate light and air circulation for good cropping. Hazel is partially self-fertile but produces better nut crops when two or more different varieties are planted together for cross-pollination.

Care and Maintenance

Corylus avellana is relatively low-maintenance once established. Water regularly during the first two growing seasons, particularly during dry spells, to encourage a strong root system. Once established, the shrub rarely requires watering except during prolonged droughts. Feed annually in early spring with a general-purpose fertiliser or a generous mulch of well-rotted compost or manure applied around the base. This mulch also suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and gradually improves soil structure. Keep a weed-free area of at least one metre diameter around young plants, as grass and weeds compete significantly for water and nutrients.

For plants grown for nut production, ensure adequate moisture during summer when nuts are developing—water during dry periods to improve crop size and quality. Remove any suckers that appear away from the main plant unless you're encouraging a multi-stemmed form or creating a thicket.

Pruning and Coppicing

The pruning approach depends entirely on how you're growing your hazel:

For Specimen Trees: Prune in late winter (February-March) to maintain shape and remove any dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches. For a single-stemmed tree form, remove any shoots that appear on the trunk below the main crown. Mature hazels require minimal pruning—just occasional thinning to maintain an open structure that allows light and air into the centre.

For Nut Production: Prune in late winter to create an open, goblet-shaped structure that allows light and air to reach all parts of the plant, improving nut production and quality. Remove approximately one-third of the oldest stems at ground level every few years to encourage young, productive growth. Thin out crowded or crossing branches. The aim is a framework of 6-10 main stems with an open centre.

For Coppicing: This traditional management technique involves cutting all stems to within 5-15 centimetres of ground level every 5-10 years (typically 7-8 years is optimal), usually in late winter. The plant responds vigorously, producing multiple straight new stems that are valuable for crafts, pea sticks, bean poles, hurdles, and firewood. Coppicing rejuvenates the plant, extends its life indefinitely, and creates valuable wildlife habitat. After coppicing, protect new growth from deer and rabbits if these are present.

For Hedging: Trim once or twice during summer to maintain the desired shape and height. Hazel hedges can be formal or informal depending on frequency of trimming. For a traditional, loose hedgerow, trim every 2-3 years. For wildlife value, leave some sections untrimmed to produce nuts.

Harvesting Hazelnuts

One of hazel's great pleasures is harvesting your own fresh hazelnuts. Nuts typically ripen in September-October, depending on your location and the season. They're ready when the husks turn yellow-brown and nuts fall naturally when shaken gently. For best results:

• Timing: Harvest when husks are turning brown but before squirrels take the entire crop—they're remarkably efficient! Check daily once ripening begins.

• Method: Shake branches over a groundsheet to catch falling nuts, or pick directly from the plant.

• Drying: Spread nuts in a single layer in a dry, airy place for 2-4 weeks to dry and cure. This improves flavour and storage life.

• Storage: Store dried nuts in their shells in a cool, dry place where they'll keep for several months. Shelled nuts can be frozen.

• Yield: Expect 5-10 kilograms of nuts from a mature, well-grown tree, though yields vary considerably by year, weather, and pollination success.

For guaranteed good crops, plant at least two different hazel varieties for cross-pollination, ensure plants receive adequate sun, and protect from squirrels using netting if necessary.

Uses in the Garden

Corylus avellana is exceptionally versatile in garden design. As a specimen tree or large shrub, it creates an attractive focal point with multi-seasonal interest. In wildlife gardens, it's absolutely essential, supporting extraordinary biodiversity whilst providing nuts for both humans and wildlife. Use it in woodland gardens or shade gardens where it thrives beneath tree canopies, creating valuable understorey. For edible landscapes, it combines productivity with beauty, producing harvestable nuts alongside ornamental value.

Hazel makes excellent informal hedging or boundary planting, creating wildlife-rich barriers that produce edible crops. In traditional cottage gardens, it provides authentic character and period-appropriate planting. For naturalistic or wild gardens, it creates habitat and food sources whilst looking entirely at home. Coppiced hazel creates useful materials for the garden—pea sticks, bean supports, woven hurdles, plant supports, and kindling—making it genuinely productive. In mixed borders, it provides height, structure, and seasonal interest. Plant it along woodland edges, in copses, or as part of mixed native hedgerows for authentic British planting.

Wildlife Value

As a native British plant, Corylus avellana supports exceptional wildlife diversity and is one of the most valuable plants for biodiversity. The early catkins provide crucial pollen for queen bumblebees and other insects emerging from hibernation in late winter when few other food sources exist—this alone makes hazel invaluable for pollinators. More than 70 insect species feed on hazel, including numerous moths, beetles, and weevils. The leaves support caterpillars of several moth species, including the large emerald moth and many others.

Hazelnuts provide essential food for mammals—grey squirrels, red squirrels, dormice, wood mice, and bank voles all depend on them, with dormice being particularly associated with hazel. Numerous birds feed on the nuts, particularly jays (which cache nuts and help dispersal), nuthatches, woodpeckers, coal tits, and great tits. The dense, multi-stemmed structure provides excellent nesting sites and shelter for birds including wrens, robins, dunnocks, blackbirds, and thrushes.

Hazel flowers support early specialist bees and the leaves host aphids that, in turn, attract ladybirds, lacewings, and hoverflies. The bark and dead wood provide habitat for invertebrates, whilst coppiced hazel creates ideal conditions for ground flora and woodland edge species. Overall, hazel is one of the most important plants for British wildlife and should be in every wildlife garden.

The Catkin Display

One of hazel's greatest charms is the beautiful winter catkin display that begins in January and continues through March, depending on weather and location. The long, dangling male catkins—affectionately called "lamb's tails"—are pale yellow to greenish-yellow and can reach 5-8 centimetres in length, hanging elegantly from bare branches. They release clouds of pollen on mild, dry days, creating a magical effect when backlit by low winter sun.

Simultaneously, the tiny female flowers appear as minute crimson tufts barely noticeable but crucial for nut production. The catkins provide valuable early-season interest when little else is flowering, bringing life and movement to the dormant garden. Position hazel where winter sun can illuminate the catkins and where you'll pass regularly to appreciate this subtle but beautiful display. The catkins are also excellent for cutting and bringing indoors for winter arrangements.

Traditional Coppicing and Crafts

Hazel has been coppiced in Britain for thousands of years, producing valuable materials for numerous traditional crafts and practical uses. Coppiced hazel stems (called "rods" or "wands") are remarkably strong yet flexible, making them ideal for:

• Hurdles and fencing: Woven hazel panels for traditional boundaries

• Basketry: Material for traditional basket-making

• Plant supports: Pea sticks, bean poles, and spiral plant supports

• Walking sticks and shepherds' crooks: Straight stems for functional and decorative sticks

• Thatching spars: Securing material for traditional thatched roofs

• Wattle panels: For walls, fencing, and garden structures

• Firewood and charcoal: Excellent burning properties

• Garden construction: Rustic furniture, arbours, and structures

Even if you don't practice these crafts yourself, coppiced hazel provides useful garden materials and creates excellent wildlife habitat. The traditional 7-8 year coppice cycle ensures a sustainable supply whilst maintaining plant health indefinitely.

Hazel in Folklore and History

Hazel holds significant place in British folklore, mythology, and practical history. Ancient Britons considered hazel sacred, associated with wisdom and poetic inspiration. Hazel rods were traditionally used for water divining (dowsing). The nuts were gathered and stored for winter food for millennia. Hazel woodlands were carefully managed through coppicing, creating valuable sustainable resources and distinctive habitats that persist today as ancient woodland.

The phrase "hazel eyes" references the rich brown colour of ripe hazelnuts. In folklore, hazel was believed to offer protection and was planted near dwellings. This rich cultural heritage adds depth and meaning to growing this historic plant in modern gardens, connecting us to centuries of British gardening and land management tradition.

Seasonal Interest

Late Winter/Early Spring (January-March): Beautiful pale yellow catkins dangle from bare branches, providing essential early pollen for insects and creating elegant winter displays.

Spring (April-May): Fresh green leaves unfurl, soft and slightly furry, creating lush foliage. The leaves have attractive serrated edges and prominent veins creating texture.

Summer (June-August): Dense, rich green foliage provides attractive backdrop in mixed plantings. Developing nuts gradually enlarge within their leafy bracts.

Autumn (September-October): Foliage turns beautiful butter yellow before falling. Nuts ripen and fall, providing harvest opportunities and wildlife food. The distinctive serrated-edged husks add ornamental interest.

Winter (November-December): Attractive bare branch structure with smooth bark. Early catkin buds begin swelling, promising the coming display.

Companion Planting

Hazel combines beautifully with numerous companion plants, particularly those that thrive in woodland or semi-shade conditions:

Understorey Plants: Spring bulbs like bluebells, wood anemones, snowdrops, and wild daffodils create carpets beneath hazel canopies. Native wildflowers including primroses, wood sorrel, violets, and red campion thrive in the dappled shade.

Woodland Perennials: Ferns (particularly soft shield fern and male fern), foxgloves, solomon's seal, and native geraniums flourish beneath hazel.

Shrub Layer: Combine with other native shrubs like hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood, guelder rose, and dog rose for authentic hedgerow or woodland edge plantings.

Climbers: Honeysuckle and wild clematis scramble attractively through hazel branches.

Groundcover: Wild strawberry, bugle, and ivy create attractive ground-level interest beneath hazel.

Improving Nut Production

While hazel produces nuts naturally, several factors improve crop size and quality:

Pollination: Plant at least two different hazel plants (or distinct cultivars) spaced 4-5 metres apart. Cross-pollination significantly improves nut set and quality compared to single, isolated plants.

Sun Exposure: Ensure plants receive at least half-day sun for good flowering and nut development. Too much shade reduces cropping.

Feeding: Apply general-purpose fertiliser or well-rotted manure in spring to support nut development. Mulching retains moisture during the crucial summer growing period.

Thinning: Remove overcrowded stems to allow light and air into the canopy, improving flower production and nut quality.

Pest Control: Protect developing nuts from squirrels using netting if necessary. Weevils sometimes affect nuts but rarely cause total crop failure.

Weather: Nut production varies naturally by year depending on weather during pollination and growing seasons—some years are simply better than others.

Why Choose Bare Root?

Bare root Corylus avellana offers outstanding value and numerous advantages over container-grown specimens. The cost saving is substantial—often 50-60% less expensive than equivalent potted plants—making it affordable to purchase multiple plants for hedging, woodland planting, or improved pollination. This cost advantage is particularly significant for larger projects or when establishing new hazel coppices.

Environmentally, bare root plants are far more sustainable, eliminating plastic pots entirely and dramatically reducing the carbon footprint associated with production, storage, and transport. The root systems of bare root plants are typically superior—more fibrous and naturally developed—leading to better establishment and more vigorous growth. When planted during the dormant season (November-March), bare root plants establish just as successfully as container-grown alternatives, often overtaking them within a couple of years.

The lighter weight makes handling and planting easier, particularly important when planting multiple specimens for hedging or woodland. For budget-conscious gardeners, those establishing hedges, or anyone wanting to plant multiple hazels for better nut production, bare root represents the intelligent, economical choice without any compromise on quality or results.

Planting Schemes and Combinations

Native Hedgerow: Combine hazel with hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple, dog rose, and guelder rose, spacing plants 45-60 centimetres apart in a staggered double row for authentic, wildlife-rich boundary planting.

Woodland Garden: Plant hazel as canopy or understorey with silver birch, rowan, and oak, underplanting with bluebells, primroses, wood anemones, and ferns for naturalistic woodland effects.

Edible Forest Garden: Combine hazel with other productive plants—fruit trees, blackcurrants, rhubarb, and perennial vegetables—creating layered, productive planting that mimics woodland structure.

Wildlife Haven: Plant hazels in groups with berry-bearing shrubs (hawthorn, elder, rowan), providing year-round food sources and nesting habitat for birds and mammals.

Coppice Garden: Establish a small hazel coppice in rotation, providing sustainable materials for garden use whilst creating dynamic, changing habitat and maintaining plants indefinitely through traditional management.

Final Thoughts

Corylus avellana is a truly outstanding plant that offers exceptional value through its combination of beauty, productivity, wildlife support, and versatility. The elegant winter catkins provide early-season interest and crucial food for emerging pollinators, the lush summer foliage creates attractive screens and backdrops, the autumn nut harvest provides both food and satisfaction, and the winter branch structure adds subtle beauty to the dormant garden. As a native British plant with thousands of years of cultivation history, hazel connects us to our gardening heritage whilst supporting extraordinary biodiversity.

Easy to grow, adaptable to various conditions, responsive to different management approaches, and tolerant of neglect, hazel suits gardeners of all experience levels and garden styles. Whether you're creating wildlife habitat, establishing traditional hedgerows, developing edible landscapes, practicing coppicing crafts, or simply seeking a beautiful, multi-purpose shrub, Corylus avellana delivers outstanding, reliable performance for decades—even centuries with appropriate management.

For anyone seeking a hardworking, productive, beautiful, and genuinely useful plant that benefits wildlife, provides harvestable crops, and connects us to British gardening tradition, Corylus avellana represents not just an excellent choice but an essential investment in creating a richer, more diverse, more productive garden that will reward you and future generations for many years to come.

For protection from pests consider Spiral Rabbit Guards or Tree Shelters.

Please see our bare root plant guides for more information. We've put together a collect of help and advice articles covering what bare root plants are, why they are a good choice, which plants are available bare root, when and where to plant.

Deciduous plants supplied bare root during the dormancy period will not have any leaves at this time; top growth will just be brown and twiggy to start with and will come into leaf in the spring. This is perfectly normal. The plants we supply are healthy will an extensive root system. Please see the final picture for an illustration of how your plants will look when they are delivered.