Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: American hazelnut
While the American chestnut was for humans the American hazelnut is really for wildlife.
I planted them on some property years ago primarily for the wildlife including pheasant, turkey, deer, woodpeckers and little mammals. Okay squirrels LOVE them and that’s a bit of an issue but give the other wildlife time and they’ll find their way to the nuts.
The American Hazelnut, corylus americana, is native to the eastern half of the U.S. except for Florida. It’s hardy from zone 3 to 9 and will tolerate partial shade, although you’ll get more fruit production in full sun. The nutmeats are more nutritious than acorns and it’s leaves change color in the Fall with varying shades of yellow, orange and red.
The American hazelnut produces red female flowers and yellowish-brown male catkins on the same plant (but it is not self-fertile).
So you need to plant at least 2 for cross-pollination. It’s a multi stemmed shrub that will grow to 12 feet and has a similar spread with suckers. The male catkins are also a food staple for ruffed grouse during winter.
It’s not the prettiest of shrubs and wouldn’t be a choice for a home landscape plant but it makes a great plant for wildlife and for a property border. American hazelnuts are in the same family as filberts, tasting the same but they’re smaller.