American Hazelnut Tree

Corylus americana

The American Hazelnut Filbert Tree is a multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded top and an open, often wide-spreading base. Because of its size, it is adapts well to naturalizing and other nonformal areas. It bears annual, abundant crops of small, sweet tasting nuts. It will bear in 2-3 years after planting and can be harvested from September to October. The nuts are easy to crack and drop free of the husk when mature. Produces red female flowers and yellowish-brown male catkins on the same plant (but it is not self-fertile). This, and all nut trees should be planted in multiples (2 or 3) to ensure cross-pollination. The nuts produced by this shrub are a preferred by squirrels, deer, turkey, woodpeckers, pheasants, grouse, quail and jays. The male catkins are a food staple of ruffed grouse throughout the winter.