Much less common than it once was, Hazelnut is a very important conservation shrub, as well as ornamental. Hazelnut is a wide-ranging shrub, growing from Quebec to Manitoba, south to Oklahoma and Georgia.
Hazelnut typically grows as a shrub to small tree, with a multi-trunk, spreading form. Plants spread over time to form narrow thickets, though not aggressively. Broad-textured summer leaves fade to a golden yellow to burnt orange by Fall; at the same time, the nut husks fade to brown and the nuts are ready for picking!
Hazelnuts are delicious, but they are also very popular among deer, turkeys, squirrels and other forest animals, so keep a watch on the nuts as they ripen.
Hazelnut shrubs grow very well in partial shade, especially at the edges of forests. In more open oak forests, they can grow more in the interior, but produce less nuts. The shrubs grow quickly to size, making a very good screen for shady sites.
As mentioned above, hazelnuts are also very useful for their edible nuts - A planting of 3 to 5 should yield enough nuts to consume and share with wildlife. Hazelnut will begin producing nuts within a season or two after planting; peak production is reached within 5 years of planting and lasts for years.
Hazelnut makes an excellent species-diverse hedgerow - Included in a mixed planting, it greatly helps the overall ecological function of the landscape. Hazelnut is an excellent host plant for insects, supporting many species of moths, beetles and butterflies.
Hazelnut does well in moist or dry soil; In Indiana, it is found mostly along streams and in moist forest types. A moist, well-drained soil seems to result in best growth.
Plant American Hazelnut 6 feet apart in good soil, and protect the shrubs from rabbits for a year or two as they get established. Hazelnuts grow into dense thickets, so make sure you have enough space for them to spread. Any errant root suckers can be sliced off with a sharp shovel.
Our Quart SuperPlug seedlings offer quick rooting and establishment, with accelerated growth compared to standard or bareroot stock. Water well the first year (No more than once per week); if you get plentiful rainfall at your site, just watering the first week or two is fine.
| Common Name: | American Hazelnut |
| Botanical Name: | Corylus americana |
| USDA Hardiness Zones: | 4-9 |
| Height: | 10-15 Feet |
| Spread: | 8-12 Feet |
| Spacing: | 6-8 Feet |
| Flower Color: | Greenish Yellow (Separate Male & Female Flowers) |
| Bloom Time: | Late March - Mid April |
| Texture: | Medium |
| Habit: | Spreading Round Shrub |
| Light Exposure: | Part Shade to Sun; Forest Edges & Clearings; Oak Savannas |
| Soil Moisture: | Moist to Average |
| Soil Texture: | Clay Loam to Sandy Loam, Well-Drained |
| Soil PH: | Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline |
| Landscape Uses: | Screening, Hedge, Specimen Shrub, Habitat Reclamation |
| Benefits: | Takes Clay Soil, Attracts Wildlife |
| Ecological Function: | Larval Food Source, Seed, Forage, Shelter |
