Planting hazelnuts in your own garden? Not a bad idea – but will it become a bush or a tree? Many hazelnut lovers ask themselves this question and here comes the answer
Does the hazelnut grow as a shrub or tree?
The hazelnut can grow as a shrub (average height 5-6 m) or as a small tree (size 7-10 m). However, in most cases it is planted as a shrub because it has many rashes and a shrub-like appearance.
Small tree or large shrub
The hazelnut can grow into both a shrub and a tree. Most of the cases that can be found in this country are hazelnut bushes. The reason is that the hazelnut is more difficult to grow as a tree. Responsible for this are her many stick rashes, which she has a fondness for and which make her appear bush-like.
Whether as a small tree or as a large shrub, the hazelnut has moderate growth in the first few years of its life. Later, when it has gained a foothold in its location, it grows stronger and often becomes a pest for many gardeners that is difficult to remove.
The hazelnut as a shrub
As a shrub, the hazelnut reaches an average height of 5 m. Its maximum height is 6 m. When grown as a shrub, it takes up a space of between 4 and 6 m in width.
The hazelnut bush has many stems and is well branched and branched from the base onwards. It grows upright and has a dense appearance. Due to its dense growth, the hazelnut is ideal as a shrub:
- Hedge
- Privacy protection
- Windbreak
- Noise protection
- Bird protection
The hazelnut as a tree
In the rarest of cases, the hazelnut grows into a small tree. As a tree, it reaches a size of between 7 and 10 m. The crown is wide because the branches spread far apart as they age. This creates an umbrella-shaped shape that turns the hazelnut tree into a valuable source of shade.
But why are there so few hazelnut trees that would be ideal for home gardens, open lawns and large courtyards? The reason is that the hazelnut produces shoots at the base of its trunk. They give the plant a bush-like appearance.
Tips & Tricks
Since the hazelnut likes to form rashes, it is easier to plant it as a shrub. This saves you having to regularly remove the rashes, which takes time and patience.
