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Hazel (genus Corylus) is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere.[4]

Hazel trees produce a nut known as the hazelnut.

Early broomsticks were made with hazel twigs.[2] The wood again became favourable for this usage with the advent of the Firebolt broomstick.[3]

Firebolt broomstick[]

Twigs of either hazel or birch were used in the construction of Firebolt broomsticks depending on the purchaser's personal preference. Hazel was useful for hair-trigger steering, while birch was known to give more "oomph".[3]

Wandlore[]

A sensitive wand, hazel often reflected its owner's emotional state, and worked best for a master who understood and could manage their own feelings. Others should be very careful handling a hazel wand if its owner had recently lost their temper, or suffered a serious disappointment, because the wand would absorb such energy and discharge it unpredictably.[1]

The positive aspect of a hazel wand more than made up for such minor discomforts, however, for it was capable of outstanding magic in the hands of the skilful, and was so devoted to its owner that it often "wilted" (which is to say, it expelled all its magic and refused to perform, often necessitating the extraction of the core and its insertion into another casing, if the wand was still required) at the end of its master's life (if the core was unicorn hair, however, there was no hope; the wand would almost certainly have "died").[1]

Hazel wands also had the unique ability to detect water underground, and would emit silvery, tear-shaped puffs of smoke if passing over concealed springs and wells.[1]

There was an old poem which included this wand wood: "rowan gossips, chestnut drones, ash is stubborn, hazel moans". Garrick Ollivander believed that there was some truth in this rhyme.[1]

Known Hazel wand owners[]

Behind the scenes[]

  • The ability for hazel wands to detect water might have its origin in a Celtic legend, which references nine hazel trees growing around a sacred pool. Additionally, hazel was used to create wands and divining rods, with which witches could find underground water.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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