For the culinary garden connoisseur with space to spare, Corylus americana is a native deciduous shrub worthy of addition to most average, well-drained sites where it will offer gifts of gratitude for years to come. Besides a lovely, multi-stemmed habit that requires little maintenance, Corylus americana is known by its common name, American Hazelnut, due to its production of edible nuts with a taste akin to European filberts. Not only can these be harvested for human consumption, but they are wonderful sources of protein for animals preparing for the cold months, such as birds, squirrels, pheasants, deer, foxes, ruffed grouse, and Eastern chipmunks. However, its symbiosis with the local fauna doesn’t stop there: Corylus americana is also a host shrub for native giant silk moths such as the Io moth and the Polyphemus moth. Its freely suckering habit makes American Hazelnut a suitable deciduous hedge with a peculiar flowering habit: in early spring, from March to April, showy yellow male catkins that resemble bike tassels dangle from the branches before the shrub gives way to large, medium green leaves in mid-spring. Come autumn, the foliage takes on a multitude of colors, from oranges to pinkish-reds, purples, yellows, and yellow-greens, typically alongside ripened nuts which are harvestable from September to October - assuming the local wildlife hasn’t picked it clean first!

• Category: Woody Ornamentals
• Hardiness Zone: 4
• Height: 12 Feet
• Spread: 8 Feet
• Bloom Color: Yellow