Description
Corylus avellana 'Webb's Prize Cob' Shrub | Hazel 'Webb's Prize Cob'
Hazel 'Webb's Prize Cob' shrub is the shrub form of Corylus avellana 'Webb's Prize Cob', also known as Hazel 'Webb's Prize Cob'. It has an upright, bushy habit that creates a broad and natural garden silhouette. Green foliage gives the plant a fresh summer appearance, while yellow and brown catkins add seasonal interest early in the year. This is a deciduous shrub, so it loses its leaves for winter and returns to leaf in spring. At maturity, it reaches approximately 4 metres in height, making it a useful choice where a substantial shrub is wanted in a larger border or garden setting. The full, branching presence works well for specimen planting, group planting and informal hedges. It also suits wildlife-friendly planting, where its seasonal structure and catkins add interest. As a cultivar of Corylus, it brings the familiar character of Hazel to the garden in a clearly shrub-focused form. The plant also produces edible hazelnuts as a natural plant characteristic, without this being the main reason to grow it. For UK gardens, this hardy shrub offers a strong combination of foliage, winter structure, early flowers and practical garden value.
Key features of Hazel 'Webb's Prize Cob' (Corylus avellana 'Webb's Prize Cob')
- Early seasonal flowering: This early-flowering shrub is notable for its catkins from January to March. The flowers or catkins are yellow and brown, bringing colour and interest to the garden before the main summer display begins.
- Deciduous green foliage: The shrub carries green deciduous foliage during the growing season. Its leaves provide a natural green backdrop for the catkins and help give the plant a full, garden-friendly presence.
- Aspect and soil: Plant this Hazel shrub in full sun or partial shade. It prefers fertile, humus-rich, well-drained and slightly moist soil. In the often wet conditions of UK gardens, avoid poorly drained ground and keep the root zone light and free from waterlogging.
- Upright, bushy growth: The shrub develops an upright, bushy habit and can reach approximately 4 metres when mature. Its branching begins from a low, garden-oriented framework, creating a fuller and more natural presence than a single-trunk trained form.
- Wildlife value: Hazel 'Webb's Prize Cob' provides value for birds and other wildlife. This makes it a useful choice for a wildlife garden as well as for informal planting with a natural character.
Uses of the Hazel 'Webb's Prize Cob' shrub in the garden
- Specimen planting: Use this Hazel shrub as a specimen where its upright, bushy silhouette can be seen clearly. Its fuller form gives structure to a larger border and keeps interest through early catkins and green summer foliage.
- Groups and informal hedges: Several shrubs can be used in group planting or as an informal hedge. The natural branching habit gives the planting a relaxed landscape style and can provide structure and screening without the formal look of a tightly trained plant.
- Hardiness: This shrub has a hardiness range of approximately -23.3°C to -17.8°C and is rated as USDA zone 6. It is therefore suited to many UK gardens, including areas where winter conditions can be severe.
- Plant combinations: Combine it with compatible deciduous shrubs, woodland-style planting and herbaceous plants that tolerate full sun or partial shade. Suitable partners should also favour fertile, well-drained soil, so the planting remains consistent in its growing needs.
- Garden value: The main ornamental appeal comes from the full upright-bushy shape, green foliage and early yellow-brown catkins. Its value for birds and other wildlife adds another reason to include it in a natural garden scheme.
This shrub form is a practical choice for larger borders, informal hedge planting, group planting and landscape-style gardens. It suits gardeners looking for a hardy shrub with a full presence, early seasonal interest and wildlife value. It combines well with other hardy shrubs and suitable herbaceous planting in UK gardens where the soil is fertile, slightly moist and well drained. Hazel 'Webb's Prize Cob' shrub brings together natural structure, green summer foliage and early catkins for suitable wildlife-friendly planting schemes.
