Natural History: Native to the British Isles, the Hazel tree is a woody bush that can grow up to 20ft in height. It occurs widely in woodlands and old hedgerows and shows enormous powers of regeneration when cut back. The large, rounded and oblong leaves open in April and turn golden in late October before falling. The yellow male catkins appear in January, the female catkins, which turn into hazelnuts, ripen in September.
Medicinal Uses: While some people are, of course, allergic to nuts and should avoid them, the oil made from hazelnuts has been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels and confer antioxidant protection when consumed.
Ancient Wisdom: In Britain, forked hazel sticks are still used for water divining, while Druidic heralds carried hazel wands as a sign of their authority. The ancient Celts treated the nuts as a symbol of concentrated wisdom so give hazel to anyone who may be struggling through life’s journey right now.
Hazel Tree Tips & Care: Will do well on almost any soil but especially loams and chalk. Prune regularly to prevent your tree becoming too large.
Find out more about Hazel trees from our Native trees directory. Or buy a Hazel Tree Gift from our online shop.
