American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Golden catkins feed the first bees of February, and edible hazelnuts load the branches by September. One of the most wildlife-productive natives.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Edible hazelnuts, early-season pollen for bees, and food for dozens of wildlife species make this one of the most ecologically productive shrubs we offer.
American hazelnut is a keystone native shrub that does something remarkable in the winter garden: long before any other plant thinks about spring, the male catkins start elongating in February, releasing clouds of golden pollen that feed the first native bees of the season. The female flowers are tiny and bright red, easy to miss unless you're watching for them. By September, the plants are heavy with clusters of edible hazelnuts tucked inside papery husks. It forms a large, multi-stemmed shrub or thicket that naturalizes across woodland edges, fence lines, and rough areas. Squirrels, deer, turkeys, and dozens of bird species eat the nuts. It's one of the most wildlife-productive woody plants per acre in the mid-Atlantic.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown american hazelnut propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 6–10 ft · 6–10 ft wide
- USDA zones
- 4–9
- Family
- Betulaceae
- Native range
- Eastern and Central North America
Care notes for american hazelnut.
Full sun to part shade in average to moist, well-drained soil. Very adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy soils. Spreads by root suckers to form dense colonies. great for naturalized areas. Hard to transplant once established. Cross-pollination from a second plant improves nut production. Prune out old stems to rejuvenate.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside american hazelnut.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.