Beaked Hazelnut
Corylus cornuta
Also listed as Rostella americana
Also known as Beaked Hazel, Beaked Filbert, Western Hazel
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A deciduous shrub valued for its clusters of small, edible hazelnuts enclosed in distinctive beaked husks. It grows well in woodland settings and provides food for wildlife while offering ornamental interest in spring with catkins and fall color.
Why grow it
Beaked hazelnut is a native North American shrub that produces smaller but viable nuts compared to European hazelnut (Corylus avellana), making it useful where cold hardiness or woodland integration is a priority. Unlike cultivated hazelnut varieties, it requires less maintenance and fertilizer while supporting native wildlife, though nut yields are modest and inconsistent. The species tolerates partial shade and acidic soils better than many nut-bearing shrubs, and its multi-stemmed growth habit makes it suitable for hedgerow or understory planting in temperate permaculture systems.
Watch out for
Nut production can be highly variable year to year and between individual plants, so establishing multiple specimens improves reliability. The beaked husks are physically tough and time-consuming to crack open relative to nut meat yield, which affects practical harvestability for many growers. Squirrels and other wildlife may consume a significant portion of the crop before human harvest is possible.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Betulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North American native
Native to: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
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
A deciduous shrub valued for its clusters of small, edible hazelnuts enclosed in distinctive beaked husks. It grows well in woodland settings and provides food for wildlife while offering ornamental interest in spring with catkins and fall color.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Beaked Hazelnut grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Beaked hazelnut is a native North American shrub that produces smaller but viable nuts compared to European hazelnut (Corylus avellana), making it useful where cold hardiness or woodland integration is a priority. Unlike cultivated hazelnut varieties, it requires less maintenance and fertilizer while supporting native wildlife, though nut yields are modest and inconsistent. The species tolerates partial shade and acidic soils better than many nut-bearing shrubs, and its multi-stemmed growth habit makes it suitable for hedgerow or understory planting in temperate permaculture systems.
Watch out for
Nut production can be highly variable year to year and between individual plants, so establishing multiple specimens improves reliability. The beaked husks are physically tough and time-consuming to crack open relative to nut meat yield, which affects practical harvestability for many growers. Squirrels and other wildlife may consume a significant portion of the crop before human harvest is possible.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Betulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North American native
Native to: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
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
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