Hazel

Hazelina alexanderi

Hazel is a bush that produces delicious nuts! The leaves are green and round, providing great shade in the summer.

Habitat: Woodlands and hedgerows

Appearance

The Hazel is a deciduous shrub or small tree with broad, rounded, toothed leaves. It showcases yellow, worm-like male catkins in late winter and tiny red female flowers before its leaves appear. Its edible nuts are encased in leafy, fringed husks.

KingdomPlantaePhylumArthropodaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFagalesFamilyBetulaceaeGenusCorylus

Hazel

Interesting facts

A single hazel tree can produce thousands of delicious nuts each year!

Ancient people used hazel branches for building and weaving sturdy fences!

Hazel nuts are sometimes called 'filberts' after a saint's feast day.

Hazel wood is so flexible, it was used to make hurdles and fishing rods.

Special abilities

Hazel can bloom in late winter before its leaves sprout, ensuring its wind-blown pollen travels far and wide.

Hazel has nutritious nuts that ripen in autumn, providing vital food for many animals and helping the tree spread its seeds.

Hazel can regrow vigorously from its stump after being cut, making it a very resilient and long-lived plant.

Measurements & details

Height: 300-800 cm
Spread: 300-600 cm
Flower Size: 2-6 cm
Bloom Season: Late winter to early spring
Is Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

eaten by

Grey Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Squirrels eagerly collect and eat its nutritious nuts.

depends on

Hazel Dormouse

Muscardinus avellanarius

This tiny dormouse relies on hazel nuts, flowers, and leaves.

eaten by

Eurasian Jay

Garrulus glandarius

Jays bury hazel nuts, helping them grow into new trees.

Traits

Deciduous

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Shade Tolerant

Discover plants that love to live in the shadows, growing beautifully and happily even in spots where the sun doesn't shine all day long.

Shrub

These amazing plants are like nature's bushy sculptures, having woody stems that branch out from the ground to create a lovely, full shape.

Fruit Bearing

These amazing plants develop fruits, which often contain seeds and are sometimes delicious treats for us or wildlife. They're nature's way of spreading new life!

Nut Bearing

Discover wonderful plants that grow delicious, nutritious nuts, providing tasty snacks for both humans and wildlife.

Edible

Find plants that are safe and delicious to eat, offering tasty treats and nourishment from nature's pantry. Always check with an adult before tasting!