Filbert Hazelnut Hedge Plants

Corylus maxima Saplings

GREEN FILBERT: NOT SOLD FOR 2024

• For hedges, buy Common Hazel or Purple Hazel
• For growing nuts, buy Cosford Cob

The Filbert Hazelnut tree, Corylus maxima, also known as a Kentish Cobnut, provides bigger, meatier nuts than wild Hazel. These nuts are a staple food for squirrels, hedgehogs and mice, as well as humans, so be prepared to protect your crop! It can be used in a mixed hedge if you like, although we think that Common Hazel is better value for this purpose. Filbert Hazelnut trees will reach about 10 metres tall if you don't prune them.

You can also buy Purple Filberts from our nut tree range. Alternatively, view our selection of native hedging or see our full range of hedging plants.

Filbert plants are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-March).

• Any moist soil.
• Vigorous, bushy tree.
• Edible nuts, but Cosford Cob is better
• Can be used as country hedging, but Common Hazel is better value
• Max. Height: 10m
• Bareroot Delivery Only: Nov-Mar.

Spacing a Filbert Hazelnut hedge:

Filberts can be added to a mixed hedge: they are good hedging plants, but Common Hazel is cheaper & because you will be clipping your hedge, you won't get very many nuts. Space normally at 3 per metre, or 5 in a staggered double row. 

History & uses of Corylus maxima: 

The original Filberts were from Turkey and the Balkans, but since their introduction in the 1750's they have been extensively inter-bred with our native hazel trees. Filberts are grown commercially for the best hazelnuts, but the hazels in cheaper packets of mixed nuts are usually from Common Hazel. The name Filbert probably comes from the 7th century Norman Saint Philibert of Jumiges. His feast day is on the 20th of August, about the time that the first Filbert nuts are ready to eat.

Growing Filbert Hazelnut plants:
Filbert Hazelnut will grow well in pretty much any conditions. They are very tough, shade tolerant plants that will grow in any soil, but we recommend planting them in full sun to get the best crops from them.
They will not grow near the sea.

Prepare your site before planting:
It is good to dig over the area where you plant a hedge several months in advance, especially if the soil is poor. Destroy the weeds first. Then dig the soil over; remove rocks, roots and other rubbish. Mix in well rotted compost or manure down to the depth of about 2 spades. If your soil is rich, you don't have to dig it over, but killing all the weeds is still necessary.
If you are planting Filberts in a hedge and not as a cropping tree, the only essential preparation is to kill the weeds in a strip a metre wide along the planting site: improving the soil should not be necessary. If your soil is exceptionally poor and dry, then digging in some well rotted manure and/or compost is still worthwhile.

Watch our video on how to plant a country hedge for full details on planting a mixed hedge.
Remember to water establishing plants during dry weather for at least a year after planting.

Hedge Planting Accessories:
Prepare your site for planting by killing the weeds and grass.
You can buy a hedge planting pack with sheets of mulch fabric and pegs to hold it down.
If you are planting in an area with rabbit and/or deer, you will need to use a plastic spiral guard for each plant, supported by a bamboo cane.
If your soil quality is poor, we recommend using mycorrhizal "friendly fungi" on the roots of new trees and shrubs.
You can also improve your soil with bonemeal organic fertiliser.