Common Hazel Longue d'Espagne - Corylus avellana

Corylus avellana 'Longue d'Espagne' is a fruit-bearing Hazel tree that produces large, sweet and fragrant hazelnuts, which are ready to be harvested from September onwards. Moderately vigorous and with few suckers, this fast-growing variety reaches a height of 4m (13ft). Its yellow-green flowering in late winter is relatively decorative, as is the yellow color of its foliage in autumn. It grows in full sun or partial shade, in neutral or calcareous soil that is moist but not too dry. Hardy and easy to cultivate, it can be grown in most regions.

Corylus avellana belongs to the Betulaceae family, just like the Birch, Alder, and Hornbeam. It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is present throughout most of our mainland territory, although it seems to be declining in the south due to climate change. It is a monoecious fruit tree, bearing male inflorescences and female inflorescences on the same individual. Naturally self-sterile, it requires cross-pollination, which is carried out by wind and bees that transport its pollen to other plants.

The 'Longue d'Espagne' cultivar is one of the best horticultural selections for hazelnut production. It is also known as Kentish Cob, Lambert Filbert, or Du Chilly. This moderately suckering and moderately-sized shrub is particularly suitable for small gardens. It flowers in the form of yellow-green catkins in February or March, adding an aesthetic touch to the garden. The deciduous foliage appears later. Dense and rounded, it gives the Corylus a bushy appearance. The leaves are round-shaped, strongly veined, and measure 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long. The fruits that form on 1-year-old shoots are called achenes, commonly known as hazelnuts. In the case of 'Longue d'Espagne', they are large and elongated, with a rounded top. They have a sweet taste and a pleasant aroma, which explains the popularity of this variety. They are usually ready to be harvested from mid-September to October. With good yield and regular production over the years, this variety needs to be pollinated by another variety, such as the Hazelnut 'Merveille de Bollwiller'. Early ripening, this variety will allow you to extend the harvest season as it ripens around mid-August.

The lifespan of the common hazelnut tree is approximately 60 years.

To accompany 'Longue d'Espagne' in a fruit hedge or a countryside garden, consider planting a Blackthorn, from which you can make jams with its blue-black fruits. In the same idea of a slightly wild hedge, also think about Amelanchier, such as Amelanchier alnifolia Saskatoon Berry, with its small spherical fruits resembling blueberries, which can be used in desserts, pastries, or jams. An original shrub, Crataegus pinnatifida 'Big Ball', a Chinese Hawthorn with a low growth (3.50m (11ft)) but with larger fruits than other species, suitable for compotes or jams, and rich in vitamin C, will also be a good companion.