General: The common hazel is native to Europe and western Asia. It grows here in sparse deciduous forests, on the edge of the forest or in hedges. Mostly it forms several trunks that diverge widely with age. The leaves are round, dark green and turn yellow to yellow-orange in autumn. In spring the hazel blooms in a delicate yellow long before the leaves shoot, sometimes as early as January. The yellow flowers are the male catkins. The fruits then ripen until September / October. Incidentally, hazelnuts were of great importance to humans as early as the Mesolithic and are still intensively cultivated in countries such as Turkey and Italy. However, the use of wood has lost its importance.
Care as a bonsai: The hazel has a very good capacity and is quite vigorous. It offers many design options. A multi-stem design is of course typical, but it also forms a good root approach for a freely upright shape. However, wire must be removed in good time due to the smooth bark. The hazel prefers a moist, well-nourished soil and a sunny, but protected location.
Special features of the variety hazel 'Contorta': The shoots of the ‘Contorta‘ variety naturally grow in the shape of a corkscrew. This leads to an interesting and sometimes bizarre shape of the plant. Nevertheless, unsuitable shoots must of course be removed or shortened accordingly.
