Filbert
Corylus maxima · Betulaceae
📷 Fritz Geller-Grimm · CC BY-SA 2.5
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around filbert and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- March to April
- Adult size
- Up to 6 m in height
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -20 °C
- Origin
- Southwest Asia, Caucasus region
- Soil type
- Fertile, well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral
- Production
- Edible hazelnuts in autumn
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Lambert's hazel produces large hazelnuts much bigger than common hazel, highly prized: it requires cross-pollination (plant at least two different trees) and plenty of sunlight.
The common mistake
Planting a single tree hoping to harvest; without a nearby male pollinator, the female flowers remain unproductive.
The pro's trick
Pair it with a common hazel or another hazel tree to ensure reliable pollination.
Care
Sunlight
Plant Lambert's hazel in full sun for optimal fruiting and better vigor. It tolerates partial shade, however, but hazelnut production will be less abundant. Avoid overly shaded areas that slow growth.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year of establishment. Once established, the shrub tolerates dry periods well, but moderate watering in summer improves fruit production. Keep the soil slightly moist without creating waterlogging.
Soil and planting
Prepare fertile, well-draining soil, preferably slightly acidic. Adding mature compost at planting time promotes rooting. This shrub adapts to most temperate soils, except those that are too compact or waterlogged.
Pruning and training
Prune after fruiting (late autumn or winter) to maintain balanced shape and air out the center. Remove dead or poorly placed branches. Light pruning is usually sufficient; avoid severe cutting that weakens the shrub.
Fertilizing
An annual application of well-decomposed compost is enough to feed the hazel. In poor soil, a balanced fertilizer applied in spring stimulates growth. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would favor foliage at the expense of fruit.
Diseases and pests
Lambert's hazel is generally robust. Watch for aphids or spider mites in spring. Fungal diseases remain rare in temperate climates with good air circulation. Good hygiene and adequate air flow prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Lambert's hazel gets its name from British botanist Lambert, who introduced it to Europe in the 19th century. Its hazelnuts, larger than those of the common hazelnut, made this variety successful with European growers. The ancient Greeks already attributed symbolic virtues to hazel branches, used for dowsing rods.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.