American Hazelnut

This American hazelnut is Corylus americana, a native shrub that grows in thickets and produces edible nuts. We ship American hazelnut shrubs bare-root in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes, in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for hedgerows, wildlife plantings, edible landscapes and wholesale buyers looking for a tough native.

American Hazelnut Shrub Size, Zones and Sun

Mature shrubs reach roughly 10 to 15 feet, with a rounded, multi-stemmed form. American hazelnut is hardy in zones 4 to 9. It prefers full sun but is happy in partial shade, and it handles occasional dry spells. Moist, well-drained loam is ideal, though it adapts to a wide range of soils.

American Hazelnut Catkins, Nuts and Leaves

Yellowish-brown male catkins hang from the stems in March, and the tiny female flowers show as red tufts on the buds. Both sexes grow on the same plant. The nuts form in a frilly, downy husk, and ripen from September to October. The leaves are dark green, rounded and slightly fuzzy, and they turn yellow in fall.

American Hazelnut and Wildlife

Birds and other animals eat the nuts, and the spring flowers draw butterflies. The thick growth also gives shelter. Our native shrub guide on American hazelnut goes deeper on the habitat value.

Where to Plant American Hazelnut

Hazelnut belongs on the edges: fence lines, field margins, windbreaks, the border where lawn meets woods. It spreads by rhizomes and fills in to a thicket over time, which helps on a slope or in a wildlife strip. For a hedge, set plants 4 to 6 feet apart. Our how to plant shrubs for low-maintenance gardens covers planting depth and spacing.

Planting American Hazelnut Bare-root

Soak the roots for an hour, dig a hole as wide as the root spread and plant at the depth the shrub grew. Firm the soil and water well. Mulch to hold moisture, and water weekly through the first summer.

Buying American Hazelnut in Bulk

A pack of 100 set 5 feet apart makes a hedgerow around 500 feet long. Nut yield improves when there are several plants nearby, so larger packs make sense if the nuts matter to you. The 1-2 foot size is the easiest to plant at scale.

Good to Know About American Hazelnut

The thicket habit can be a nuisance in a formal bed, so give it room or mow a boundary. Japanese beetles chew the leaves in some summers, and eastern filbert blight can affect the plants. The husk is soft, but the inner shell needs cracking.

American Hazelnut for Edible Hedgerows

A mixed hedgerow with hazelnut, elderberry and viburnum gives a long season of flowers, fruit and cover. Hazelnut is the one with nuts, and the dense stems make it a good windbreak at field edges. Prune out a few of the oldest stems each year to keep the clump productive, and cut suckers back if they wander outside the line.

American Hazelnut Shrub Sizes, Packs and Shipping

American hazelnut shrubs ship bare-root in November, in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes and packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more wholesale shrubs.