Hazelnut
Corylus americana

(Filbert Tree, American Hazelnut)

Seedling Height: 12 to 18 inches

Mature Size: 8 to 15 feet in height and 6 inches to 1 foot in diameter

Type: Deciduous

Growth Rate: Fast

Form: Small shrub that often grows in clumps

Soil Type: Loam, sand, well drained

Light: Partial shade, full sun

Foliage: Alternate, simple, with a doubly serrated margin, broadly oval with a heart–shaped or rounded base, 2½ to 5 inches in length.

Blooms: Early spring

Flowers: Males are light brown catkins, 1 to 3 inches long; females are inconspicuous with only bright red stigma and styles protruding from the otherwise gray–brown buds

Fruit: Edible ½ inch diameter nuts, enclosed in a hairy life like husk. Ripens in late summer.

Values and Uses: Nut production is the main use of this tree. A great wildlife tree, the nuts are eaten by deer, squirrels, turkeys, grouse and many other animals. Planted in hedge rows will make a dense habitat for wildlife.

Did You Know? American Indians used the nuts to flavor soups.