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 siteSoil: Fertile, well-drained, loamy, slightly alkaline soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadePick: AugustKeep: Until New YearHardiness: Fully hardy, but flowers may need frost protectionPollination: Partially self-fertile, but fruits better with a pollination partnerUses: 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.