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Hazel flowers.

 

 

Hazels  grow mostly as shrubs, in the forest understory and at forest verges, and reaching up to five meters in height, sometimes even more. The shrub is upright, with a large number of trunks covered by a smooth and greyish bark. It tolerates shade, being lower in the understory of mixed and deciduous forests, but it is also found on alvars and clearings. It needs a lime-rich soil. Grows rapidly in the first years, fruit-bearing begins in the 5th to 6th year, and full fruit-bearing from the tenth year. The female flowers are hidden in the buds, only the red pistil stigma protrudes. The male flowers are in the hanging catkins and may begin flowering already towards the end of winter in sunny and wind-sheltered spots.

 

Good nut years come at 3-4 year intervals; as a reminder, last year the nut harvest was very good in places.

 

Hazel flowers.