[Skip to main content](#main-content) ![](https://img.ecotree.green/flora/species/noisetier1.jpg?d=128x128)Hazel: It's meaning and use =========================== **Hazel**, commonly known as **the common hazel**, belongs to the **Betulaceae** family. It is one of the **first species to flower** in winter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ### Hazel The **Hazel tree**, known by its Latin name *Corylus*, which means helmet, refers to the cupula—a membranous, fringed bract surrounding the fruit. Until the 19th and even early 20th century, it was more commonly referred to as "coudrier" rather than "hazel" in both literary and popular language. The tree has produced many cultivars in Europe and Turkey, selected from local wild hazel populations. Hazelnuts, which Turkey specializes in growing, account for nearly three-quarters of the world's production. These small fruits are eaten dry and possess very interesting properties. [ Become a Tree Owner ](https://ecotree.green/en/treeshop) ### Why does EcoTree plant Hazel? Hazel is a very interesting tree for enriching biodiversity. **Flowering early**, it provides food for bees and wild pollinators even before the end of winter. It is an interesting species to plant in melliferous hedges or at the edges of woodlands, as it never grows so well as where herbaceous vegetation has first colonised bare soil. ### Hazel - Overview ### Hazel - Overview The **hazeltree is a member of the Betulaceae family**. This type of tree forms a clump of 10 to 12 trunks that can reach 2 to 5 metres in height. This is rare, but it can grow up to 8 metres. It shares many **similarities with the birch**. Hazel is rarely taller than 3 metres and grows quite naturally in clumps. Hazel is distinguished by the shape of its oval, heavily veined leaves. Its flowers are male or female, measuring between 2 and 8 cm. They hang in off-white clusters. The female is easily recognised by the red ruff on top of the bud. This is where she captures the pollen grains released by the male flowers. Normally, female flowers do not allow themselves to be pollinated by male flowers on the same tree, which encourages cross-fertilisation. However, it has been observed that in certain regions where hazelnut trees are isolated, the female flower may allow itself to be pollinated by male pollen from the same tree, in order to produce fruit: **hazelnuts**. The hazel tree produces fruit called hazelnuts. They are **edible**. They are generally eaten as **dried fruit and are considered to be the most nutritious of the oilseeds**. Rich in proteins, lipids and minerals, they also make an excellent oil, and are even used to make butter. They are rich in Omega 3, vitamins E and B, fibre, copper, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Some people are allergic to them, however, as well as to hazel pollen. Read moreRead less ![Hazel](https://img.ecotree.green/flora/species/noisetier2.jpg?d=128x128) ### Hazel - Species requirements The hazel tree prefers **soil that is not too wet and not too heavy**. It likes **sunny exposures** but can adapt to semi-shady exposures. It shares with **its cousin the birch** a good capacity to colonise the soil following a thinning, a clear cut, the opening of a clearing or a windfall. It is therefore very suitable for forest edges and undergrowth **recommended for the formation of graded forest edges in forests**. It sprouts when cut. ### Hazel wood Its wood has traditionally been used for **basketry and cooperage, as well as for making canes, bundles and tool handles**. Its wood is pinkish or pinkish-brown, supple and moderately hard and heavy. It is also used for fencing and plessage, a special form of pruning and weaving of living hedges to create a plant fence. This type of living barrier is reputed to be impenetrable. ### The symbol for Hazel The hazel tree is **a symbol of wisdom and justice, but also of life**. Associated with white magic, it is even rumoured that witches fly away on a hazel broom. ### Our selection of trees Our goal is to enable anyone to do something that benefits nature and helps us to live in a more harmonious world. So why not become a tree owner in a European forest and help combat climate change? ![](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/05/371965866dca3bba57b5231a406981a2324454a4.png?d=240x135) ![Flag FR](https://img.ecotree.green/graphism/flags/fr.svg) Our favourite [See details](https://ecotree.green/en/article/7604) [Red Cedar](https://ecotree.green/en/article/7604) €19 Age: 0 to 2 years old Priziac forest Morbihan, Brittany, France Quantity Add to cart ![](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/03/738ec0d3eb00819acddd92919cb2bb44c1f43553.jpeg?d=240x135) ![Flag FR](https://img.ecotree.green/graphism/flags/fr.svg) For subscribers only [See details](https://ecotree.green/en/article/7623) [Chestnut](https://ecotree.green/en/article/7623) €19 Age: 0 to 2 years old Priziac forest Morbihan, Brittany, France [ Subscribe now! ](https://ecotree.green/en/grow-your-own-forests) ![](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/06/96105ed8287751db1269defde9fbf8e13ce62c7e.jpg?d=240x135) ![Flag FR](https://img.ecotree.green/graphism/flags/fr.svg) [See details](https://ecotree.green/en/article/7642) [Sitka Spruce](https://ecotree.green/en/article/7642) €19 Age: 0 to 2 years old Priziac forest Morbihan, Brittany, France Quantity Add to cart Please note that this is promotional communication. See our [notice of information](https://ecotree.green/en/notice-of-information). [ See our trees ](https://ecotree.green/en/treeshop) ![ecotree](https://img.ecotree.green/flora/drone/lanrivain-fr-03.jpg?d=70x70)Iain has started a [subscription of 1 tree in Denmark](/en/grow-your-own-danish-forests) ![ecotree](https://img.ecotree.green/flora/drone/lanrivain-fr-03.jpg?d=70x70)Steven has started a [subscription of 1 tree in France](/en/grow-your-own-forests) ![ecotree](https://img.ecotree.green/flora/drone/lanrivain-fr-03.jpg?d=70x70)Nicole has started a [subscription of 1 tree in Denmark](/en/grow-your-own-danish-forests) ![ecotree](https://img.ecotree.green/flora/drone/lanrivain-fr-03.jpg?d=70x70)Cara has started a [subscription of 1 tree in France](/en/grow-your-own-forests) ![ecotree](https://img.ecotree.green/flora/drone/lanrivain-fr-03.jpg?d=70x70)Kirsten True has started a [subscription of 1 tree in Denmark](/en/grow-your-own-danish-forests) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/06/e967dd49c294597ffbeb9475558178c92de29010.jpg?d=70x70)Anton gave away [1 Pedunculate Oak](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7959) from Laneuville forest (Meuse, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/hero/0001/06/77ce892186a469099f862e2969a72952340b59a2.jpg?d=70x70)Kevin helped preserve 26 m² of the [m2 of ecosystem restoration – Briec Peatland ](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7199) project in Briec Forest (Finistère, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/hero/0001/06/77bf71ca9c6ce899d41551b1353e2df049fc54c0.jpg?d=70x70)Michel helped preserve 10.01 m² of the [m2 of biodiversity in Thisted forest ](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/3576) project in Thisted Forest (Nordjylland, DK) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/06/e967dd49c294597ffbeb9475558178c92de29010.jpg?d=70x70)Danijela gave away [1 Pedunculate Oak](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7959) from Laneuville forest (Meuse, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/06/e967dd49c294597ffbeb9475558178c92de29010.jpg?d=70x70)Danijela gave away [1 Pedunculate Oak](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7959) from Laneuville forest (Meuse, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/hero/0001/06/77ce892186a469099f862e2969a72952340b59a2.jpg?d=70x70)Walter helped preserve 25 m² of the [m2 of ecosystem restoration – Briec Peatland ](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7199) project in Briec Forest (Finistère, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/05/df92dd11cbfeae6aee48aa9a20bf35cee9118475.png?d=70x70)Floor purchased [1 Sessile Oak](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/4105) from The Old Gravel Forest in Nysum (Nordjylland, DK) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/06/27f41525219097d378ed49cf99c36a3e10903216.jpg?d=70x70)Carolyn gave away [1 Field maple](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7829) from Laneuville forest (Meuse, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/05/df92dd11cbfeae6aee48aa9a20bf35cee9118475.png?d=70x70)Hsuan-Lei gave away [1 Sessile Oak](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/4105) from The Old Gravel Forest in Nysum (Nordjylland, DK) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/hero/0001/05/dc7bd18164c5e8be1dc69c2aa3f14ca0e5d8cfaf.jpg?d=70x70)English helped preserve 17.29 m² of the [Restoration of burned forests in the Aude department, France ](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/8213) project in Aude forest (Aude, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/04/b998f82957f4c4cc5ac71e18ca7f20e04edd967d.jpeg?d=70x70)Femke gave away [1 Rowan](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/8137) from The Old Gravel Forest in Nysum (Nordjylland, DK) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/03/738ec0d3eb00819acddd92919cb2bb44c1f43553.jpeg?d=70x70)Foziana gave away [1 Chestnut](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7623) from Priziac forest (Morbihan, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/05/371965866dca3bba57b5231a406981a2324454a4.png?d=70x70)Amy gave away [1 Red Cedar](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7604) from Priziac forest (Morbihan, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/05/371965866dca3bba57b5231a406981a2324454a4.png?d=70x70)Amy gave away [1 Red Cedar](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7604) from Priziac forest (Morbihan, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/essence/0001/03/738ec0d3eb00819acddd92919cb2bb44c1f43553.jpeg?d=70x70)Nathalie gave away [1 Chestnut](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/7623) from Priziac forest (Morbihan, FR) ![ecotree](https://bocdn.ecotree.green/hero/0001/06/77bf71ca9c6ce899d41551b1353e2df049fc54c0.jpg?d=70x70)Yannick helped preserve 8.01 m² of the [m2 of biodiversity in Thisted forest ](http://172.31.20.254/en/article/3576) project in Thisted Forest (Nordjylland, DK) ### Added. You're supporting Europe's forests Together with 100,000+ tree owners across the globe [ Give it as a gift ](https://ecotree.green/en/give-a-gift) [ Go to cart ](https://ecotree.green/en/basket) Continue shopping