Nuts
Hazel (hazelnuts)
Corylus avellana L. · common hazel, hazelnut, cobnut · Polish: Leszczyna pospolita (orzech laskowy)
Edible
How to identify it
- Shrub; leaf blade broadly oval to round, doubly toothed.
- Flowers very early (February–March): male catkins in groups of 3–4, up to 5 cm long.
- Nuts in a husk divided halfway down into irregular lobes.
Where it grows
In Poland a common species both in the lowlands and in the mountains up to about 1,300 m above sea level.
In the kitchen and the home medicine cabinet
Ripe nuts (brown, falling easily from the husk) are eaten raw and roasted, and used in cakes and desserts. Gather nuts that come away easily from the twig or are lying under the shrub — without breaking branches.
Caution Do not break branches — the Forest Act (ustawa o lasach) prohibits destroying or damaging trees and shrubs (art. 30 ust. 1 pkt 5). Picking is prohibited in national parks and nature reserves.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hazel (hazelnuts) in season?
In Poland, usually in September, October.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Leszczyna pospolita
- Ustawa o lasach – art. 26–30 (tekst udostępniony przez Nadleśnictwo Bolesławiec, lasy.gov.pl)
Last checked: 9 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to us.
