Corylus avellana - Cobnut

Corylus avellana, commonly known as the Cobnut, is a hardy deciduous tree grown for its attractive foliage, graceful form and delicious edible nuts. A cultivated form of the native hazel, it is an excellent choice for gardens, orchards, woodland edges and productive landscapes, offering ornamental beauty alongside a rewarding autumn harvest. In late winter to early spring, long golden-yellow catkins appear before the leaves emerge, providing one of the earliest sources of pollen for bees. Fresh green, rounded leaves create a dense canopy throughout summer before turning rich shades of golden yellow in autumn. During late summer and autumn, clusters of large, flavourful cobnuts ripen inside leafy husks and can be harvested for fresh eating, roasting or baking. The Cobnut is easy to grow, thrives in most fertile, well-drained soils and performs best in full sun or partial shade. It can be grown as a specimen tree, within a productive garden or as part of a wildlife hedge, where it provides valuable shelter and food for birds, squirrels and beneficial insects.