The Hazel is a bushy tree or shrub growing up to 12m in height. Its leaves are wrinkled and bristly with sharp, double toothed margins. They measure approx 100mm.
The twigs are reddish coloured with glandular hairs.
Flowers appear January – April before the leaves. The male catkins are bright yellow and hang in clusters of 1-4. They are pendulous in shape and measure approx 80mm. Female flowers are spike like and bright red and measure approx 5mm.
The fruit is the familiar and edible hazelnut. This is a hard- shelled nut, enveloped in a ragged, leafy, cuplike involucre about the same length as the nut – 5-20mm.
The hazel is common in hedgerows and woods and is often grown as a coppiced undershrub.
The hazel prefers a sunny spot or partial shade and likes well-drained soil. It will do well in exposed windy areas.