Corylus avellana 'COSFORD'

European hazelnut is a well-known shrub of European woodlands which is popular mainly for its fruit - nuts. It is a suckering, thicket-forming shrub with numerous upright stems. As it is a dense and large shrub it is commonly used as a screening plant. It will also make a wild hedge which should be controlled if required compact.

Cosford is one of the top varieties cultivated for its delicious and mainly large nuts. They fill out the shells completely. Cosford is an excellent cropper given another hazelnut variety grown nearby that will ensure cross pollination and better nut quality. Its leaves are fresh green, broadly ovate or rounded, serrated at margins. In winter and early spring in bears plentiful of pendent, yellow, male catkins. It can be pruned almost anytime and it takes hard pruning, too. However, if you grow it for fruit, make sure not to cut them much to have some fruit later in the same season.

The nuts are hidden in hard shells. They contain minerals and proteins important for sportsmen, students and convalescents. 100g of fresh nuts contains 13g protein, 61g fat, 13,7g carbohydrates and 3.5g fibre. They mature in late September.

It will grow almost anywhere but will crop best in fertile, well-drained, chalky soil. Fully hardy to -34°C (USDA zone 4), some sources say it can withstand -40°C.

Last update 17-07-2013