PlantsFruits & Berries
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Edible nut hedge and wildlife cover
EasyFruits & BerriesAlso Nuts & MastAlso Shrubs & VinesEdible
- Light
- Full sun–part shade
- Moisture
- Dry–medium
- Mature size
- 6–10 ft
- Spacing
- 6–10 ft
- Bloom or harvest
- Catkins Mar–Apr; nuts Sep
- How it spreads
- Suckering shrub
- What to buy
- Container or balled-and-burlapped; bare-root in early spring.
- When to plant
- Early Apr–May after soil thaws and drains; Sep–mid Oct for container/B&B. Bare-root: early spring.
In the design
Plant multiple seedlings for better nut set.
If you eat it
Ripe hazelnuts
Protect harvest from wildlife; inspect for spoilage
Only eat what you planted and can name. This is not a foraging or medical guide.
