How to grow Hazelnut in Australia
The hazelnut is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that suits cool-climate gardens such as Tasmania, the Victorian ranges and the tablelands. It flowers in winter with dangling catkins, needs a compatible second variety to set nuts, and drops its ripe nuts in autumn. It is easy to care for once you keep on top of the suckers.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Hazelnut in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | Not suited | Not viable in SEQ. Needs long cold winters and mild summers. |
| Northern Rivers NSW | Not suited | Not viable. Hazelnuts need long cold winters and mild summers. Too warm and humid here. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | Not suited | Not reliable on the coast. Needs cold winters and mild summers; the upper Blue Mountains is the nearest district that suits it. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | |
| Perth & WA | Not suited | Not reliable on the coastal plain. Too little chill and too much summer heat. Only the cooler south west suits it. |
| Tasmania | June to August | |
| Canberra & ACT | June to August | |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Hazelnuts need long cold winters. Impossible in the tropics. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Hazelnuts need long cold winters. Impossible in the Top End. |
Where to plant
Hazelnuts need a relatively cool climate with moderate rainfall: a cold winter to meet their chill needs, ideally with the coldest month averaging below 10°C, and mild summers. Rain that falls mostly in winter and spring, with a dry autumn for harvest, suits them best, and in most Australian districts they need some summer watering. Hot, dry winds and very hot summers stress them.
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil that is fairly low in nutrients. Rich soil gives lots of leaf at the expense of nuts. Avoid waterlogged ground.
- Hobart and the rest of Tasmania, Canberra, the Victorian ranges and the New South Wales tablelands: the best hazelnut country. Plant from June to August.
- Melbourne: plant from June to August. Cooler eastern and hills suburbs give better crops than the warm inner west.
- Adelaide: the plains are warm for hazelnuts; the Adelaide Hills suit them better. Plant from June to August and water through summer.
- Sydney and Perth: not reliable on the coast. In New South Wales the upper Blue Mountains, and in Western Australia the cooler south west, are the nearest suitable districts.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, North Queensland and Darwin: our calendar marks these as unsuitable, as hazelnuts need long, cold winters.
Choosing a variety
Hazelnuts are self-sterile and fussy about their pollination partners, so plant at least two varieties that are known to pollinate each other and that shed pollen when the other is flowering. Ask your nursery for a matched pair.
In trials across south eastern Australia, Barcelona and TBC (Tokolyi Brownfield Cosford) gave the best yields and adapted well to a range of sites, with Lewis and Tonda di Giffoni also performing well. Ennis gives large, attractive nuts, but its kernels did not always fill well in the trials.
How to plant
- Plant bare-rooted or potted trees in winter while dormant.
- Space plants about 4 m apart, with the pollinating variety close by.
- Plant at the same depth they were growing, water in deeply and mulch.
- Water regularly through the first summer.
- Decide whether to grow a single-trunk tree or a multi-stemmed bush, and start removing unwanted suckers from the first year.
Watering and feeding
Water young trees regularly. Established hazelnuts need supplementary watering in most Australian districts, especially through dry spells from late spring to late summer, when the kernels are filling. Dry summers give poorly filled or empty nuts.
Feed lightly. Hazelnuts grow best in soil that is fairly low in nutrients; a little compost or a light, balanced fertiliser in spring is enough.
Pruning and care through the year
- Remove suckers from the base as soon as they appear, so the job stays manageable. Hazelnuts sucker heavily.
- Prune in winter. On bush-grown plants, remove some of the oldest stems at ground level each year, reducing the plant by up to about a third, and leave the young growth. Remove crossing branches.
- Keep the plant to a height you can net and pick.
Harvesting
Hazelnuts ripen in autumn, around March and April. The nuts are ready when the husks turn yellow and start to loosen, and ripe nuts fall to the ground. Spread a sheet or tarp under the tree and shake the branches, or collect fallen nuts every few days before birds and rodents get them. A productive bush can give around 4 kg of nuts a year.
Dry the nuts in a dry, airy place, then store them in breathable bags or crates, where they keep for months in the shell.
Pests and diseases
Birds, especially cockatoos, are the main threat to the crop. Tasmania also has big bud mite.
Pests to watch for
- Birds Nuts stripped from the bush late in the season. Sulphur-crested cockatoos can take the whole crop, so net small trees and pick up nuts promptly.
- Big bud mite Swollen, rounded buds in winter that fail to open. Recorded in Tasmania; cut out and destroy affected buds.
- Rats Fallen nuts carried off or gnawed open. Collect nuts often.
Hazelnut is rarely troubled by disease.
Common questions
Do I need two hazelnut trees?
Yes. Hazelnuts are self-sterile and fussy about their pollination partners, so plant at least two varieties known to pollinate each other, close together.
How long does a hazelnut take to produce nuts?
Small crops usually start around the third or fourth year, and yields build as the bush matures over the following years.
Where do hazelnuts grow in Australia?
In cool climates with cold winters and mild summers: Tasmania, Canberra, the Victorian ranges and the New South Wales tablelands. Warm coastal areas and the subtropics do not give enough winter chill.
When are hazelnuts ready to harvest?
In autumn, around March and April, when the husks turn yellow and the nuts start to fall. Shake the bush over a tarp or collect fallen nuts every few days.
Why are my hazelnuts empty?
Blank or poorly filled nuts usually come from poor pollination or dry soil while the kernels are filling. Plant a compatible pollinator and water through dry summers.
How do I prune a hazelnut?
In winter, remove some of the oldest stems at ground level, cutting the bush back by up to a third, and leave the young growth. Remove suckers as soon as they appear.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Nuts about nuts; RIRDC (Baldwin and others): Hazelnuts, variety assessment for south eastern Australia (2010).