ExploreTree

Hazel Tree

Piper longum L.

The Hazel Tree is a small tree that produces delicious hazelnuts. These nuts are great for snacking and can be used in many tasty treats!

Habitat: Woodlands and gardens

Appearance

The Hazel Tree is a bushy, multi-stemmed tree with a spreading canopy. It has roundish, velvety green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. In late winter, slender yellow catkins (male flowers) hang from its branches before the leaves appear, adding a distinct early-season colour.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaGenusPiper

Hazel Tree

Interesting facts

Before their leaves appear, fuzzy 'lamb's tail' flowers hang from the branches in winter!

Hazel branches were once used to find underground water – it's called dowsing!

Some ancient people believed hazelnuts could bring good luck and wisdom!

Squirrels work extra hard gathering hazelnuts to hide for their winter snacks!

Special abilities

Hazel Tree can release pollen in late winter, helping it reproduce before other trees leaf out and block the wind.

Hazel Tree can regrow from its stump for centuries because its base stores energy, making it very long-lived.

Hazel Tree can produce delicious, energy-rich hazelnuts, providing vital food for wildlife and spreading its seeds.

Measurements & details

Height: 4-8 m
Canopy Spread: 3-7 m
Is Edible: Yes
Trunk Diameter: 10-20 cm
Lifespan: 50-100 years
Fruit Type: Nut
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

eaten by

Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

eats the nutritious hazelnuts

eaten by

Wood Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

forages for fallen hazelnuts

parasitizes

Nut Weevil

Curculio nucum

larvae develop inside hazelnut shells

eats

Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

browses on young hazel shoots

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!

Nut Bearing

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

Fruit Tree

Discover trees that grow delicious fruits, providing a natural bounty of snacks for people and animals alike. Imagine picking an apple right from the branch!

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!

Rapid Growing

Watch these energetic plants grow super fast, quickly transforming spaces and adding lush greenery in a blink of an eye!

Forest

These lush habitats are filled with countless trees, offering homes to a huge variety of plants and animals! Immerse yourself in the green canopy.

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!