Hazel (Corylus avellana)

Deciduous, monoecious, wind-pollinated shrub or tree. The pendulous male inflorescences consist of numerous small individual flowers. The small female flowers are enclosed in a bud from which only the red stigmas protrude and develop into oval, woody hazelnuts.

Importance for bees: Hazel is one of the first pollen sources of the year for bees. It is therefore very important for rearing the first brood at the beginning of the season.

Distribution: Coppices, woodland edges; very widespread both north and south of the Alps.
 

Flowering period: from February (sometimes as early as January) to March

Pollen: ❶❷ ∅∅

Nectar: ∅∅∅∅

Legend: Beekeeping value is indicated using the scale: 1 (low), 2 (medium), 3 (good) and 4 (very good)
(Maurizio & Schaper, 1994; Pritsch, 2007).