American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Also listed as Corylus calyculata, Corylus humilis
Also known as American Hazel, American Filbert, Hazel
Climate Match for your location
See how well American Hazelnut grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A native North American shrub prized for its edible hazelnuts and dense growth habit. Valuable for wildlife habitat, erosion control, and food production in temperate permaculture systems.
Why grow it
American hazelnut produces smaller nuts than European varieties but requires no grafting and tolerates a wider range of North American climates and soil conditions. It establishes more readily in native plant communities than introduced hazelnut species and provides early spring catkins and dense understory structure valued in wildlife-focused permaculture designs. The species matures faster and requires less ongoing pruning than some commercial hazelnut cultivars.
Watch out for
Plants produce suckers prolifically from the root system, which can become competitive if not managed through periodic removal or root barriers. Nut yields vary considerably between individual plants and across years, and commercial productivity typically requires cross-pollination from at least two genetically distinct specimens.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Betulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Most American hazelnuts in cultivation are seed-grown or unnamed clones rather than named cultivars. Selection focuses on nut size and productivity rather than ornamental characteristics.
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native North American shrub prized for its edible hazelnuts and dense growth habit. Valuable for wildlife habitat, erosion control, and food production in temperate permaculture systems.
Climate Match for your location
See how well American Hazelnut grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
American hazelnut produces smaller nuts than European varieties but requires no grafting and tolerates a wider range of North American climates and soil conditions. It establishes more readily in native plant communities than introduced hazelnut species and provides early spring catkins and dense understory structure valued in wildlife-focused permaculture designs. The species matures faster and requires less ongoing pruning than some commercial hazelnut cultivars.
Watch out for
Plants produce suckers prolifically from the root system, which can become competitive if not managed through periodic removal or root barriers. Nut yields vary considerably between individual plants and across years, and commercial productivity typically requires cross-pollination from at least two genetically distinct specimens.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Betulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
3
Avoid near
Notable Cultivars
Most American hazelnuts in cultivation are seed-grown or unnamed clones rather than named cultivars. Selection focuses on nut size and productivity rather than ornamental characteristics.