Hazel
Tree
A bushy, many-stemmed tree that dangles golden 'lamb's-tail' catkins in late winter and ripens sweet hazelnuts in autumn — a feast for dormice, squirrels and jays.
💡 Fun Facts
- In the depths of winter, hazel hangs out dangly yellow catkins called 'lamb's-tails' — some of the very first flowers of the year.
- Its hidden female flowers are tiny crimson tufts, no bigger than a splash of nail varnish, that later grow into hazelnuts.
- Cut hazel down and it doesn't die — it springs back with a burst of new stems, a trick called coppicing that people have used for thousands of years.
📅 Through the Year
- Leaf-out:April
- Flowering:January to March
- Fruiting:September to October
- Leaf fall:October to November