Cobnut Fertile de Coutard

An old, very productive form of common hazel, sometimes known as the white filbert (although it’s a cobnut) Corylus avellana Fertile De Coutard is a large, vigorous, deciduous nut-tree, with a rounded habit, reaching a height of 4-5m and spread of 3m. The nuts are very large, flattened on two sides with a medium-sized calyx; they are ivory-white, fragrant and have a good flavour. The large, slightly serrated leaves are mid-green. In February and March, yellow male catkins and tiny red female flowers appear, and can be vulnerable to frosts. Female flowers and nuts appear early in the life of this hazel. The nuts set early and can be picked in August. Fruits better with a pollination partner, such as Gunslebert.

Site: Sheltered, warm site
Soil: Fertile, well-drained, loamy, slightly alkaline soil
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Pick: August
Keep: Until New Year
Hardiness: Fully hardy, but flowers may need frost protection
Pollination: Partially self-fertile, but fruits better with a pollination partner
Uses: Eating, roasted, oil, and hazelnut flour

Learn more about how to choose and grow hazelnuts and other nuts in our advice section and on our resources page.

Photo by Guilhem Vellut, cropped, and licensed under CC BY 2.0.