They are long and golden and hang from the branches of the tree beginning in winter, providing visual interest long after leaf drop. In time, the catkins develop into edible hazelnuts, otherwise known as contorted hazelnut tree nuts.

Can you eat nuts from a twisted hazel tree?

To become edible for humans, the nuts have to grow to full maturity and dry out a bit. Once the papery outer covering starts pulling back from the nut, the hazels are safe to eat.

Do all hazel trees produce nuts?

All you need to know about hazel. ... When we speak of Hazel, we are generally referring to two species, Corylus avellana and Corylus maxima. The two species produce slightly different shaped nuts and take different growth forms. Corylus avellana produce Hazelnuts and Corylus maxima produce Filberts.