American Hazelnut
Deciduous shrub growing 2.5-4.5 m tall. Features rounded, doubly-serrate leaves and produces edible hazelnuts. Male flowers appear as catkins in early spring before leaves emerge. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Provides food for wildlife and humans. Forms thickets in favorable conditions. Suitable for naturalized areas, wildlife gardens, and edible landscaping. Native to eastern North America.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: Yellow-Brown (catkins)
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Sun Requirements: Sun to Part-Shade
Moisture: Dry to Moist-Drained
Phenology: Male catkins visible through winter. Female flowers appear early April. Leaves emerge mid-May. Nuts mature September. Golden fall color develops October. Catkins form for next year in late fall.
Wildlife Value: Nuts important food source for blue jays, turkeys, squirrels, and other mammals; provides dense cover for wildlife; catkins support early pollinators
Habit Over Time: Develops into a large, multi-stemmed shrub that slowly colonizes through root suckers. New stems emerge regularly from the base, creating a dense structure that gradually becomes more open toward the top. While it can form extensive colonies over time, the spread is manageable and predictable. Winter structure
Height: Medium to Tall (6-12 feet)