Corylus Avellana - Native Hazel

Corylus Avellana by Giulia Canevari - on sale

Yesterday was the third year for me to be part of the Botanical and Floral Art exhibition at Bloom in the Park. Is always so nice to be part of it. Is going to be on all weekend.

This year I have the pleasure to  be part of Botanical Art Worldwide, together with other Irish Botanical Artists.  A groundbreaking collaboration between botanical artists, organizations, and institutions worldwide, creating and exhibiting botanical artworks of native plants found in each participating country.


CORYLUS AVELLANA

Hazel leaf are broad with a short tip, alternate and with toothed edges. The surface is hairy. The buds are brown in winter, turning green by early spring. The bark is light brown to grey and fairly smooth, but there are many regional variation of hazel.

Hazel is monoecious, meaning that both male and female flowers are found on the same tree. The male flowers, which appear before the leaves, are long yellow pendulous catkins. The female flowers are small and crimson and often missed with naked eye. Wind pollination ensures formation of their fruit, the hazelnut.

ECOLOGYCAL VALUE

Hazel is valuable for wildlife. The leaves provide food for many species of moth such as the large emerald and nut-tree tussock moth. It is the favoured habitat of dormice, who rely on the nuts to fatten themselves up prior to going into hibernation. When grown as a coppice, the environment is a favoured habitat for the fritillary species of butterfly and many wildflowers such as the early purple-flowering orchid, primrose and bluebell.

CULTIVATION
plant bare-rooted treason winter in a well drained soil. shade is tolerated but fruiting is best in sun. 

FRUITING
Starts after 2-3 years. Nuts ripen in September. Average annual yeald is 5kg per tree.

USES
Nuts are eaten raw or cooked. (Harvest for nuts is from the ground or nets. Dried nuts will store for years); 
Wood - Hazel's usefulness lies its abilities to cleave easily. When twisted the the fibres will spare to form a strong rope. From sheep hurdles to thatching spas, walking sticks, beanpoles, faggots, fish traps, animal traps, etherings, barrel hoops, cradles, creels and crates for the potteries, the craftsmen has turned to hazel. Now is mostly used as a woven garden fence. Obelisks and plant supports, trellis and pea sticks continue to support the management of the hazel coppices. 

(Bibliography from Martin Crawford "Creating a forest garden" and Ben Law "Woodland Craft")

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