American Hazelnut Corylus americana

Corylus americana, commonly called the American hazelnut is a low maintenance deciduous shrub from the Betulaceae family.  Showy blooms appear March-April.   Fall foliage color is variable, ranging from attractive combinations of orange, rose, purplish red, yellow and green to undistinguished, dull yellowish green. Tolerates clay soil.  Can be used as a screen or a background plant in a bed but looks best in a woodland or naturalized garden where it can be allowed to spread.  The bark is gray-brown and smooth with a criss-cross netted pattern.

Regions:  Mountain, Piedmont

Seasons of Interest: 

  Leaf:  Fall                   Blooms:  Winter/early spring            Nut/Fruit/Seed:  Late summer/fall

Wildlife Value:  This plant suffers damage from deer.  The nuts are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, wild turkeys, chipmunks, black bears, foxes, white-tailed deer, skunks, and squirrels.  The twigs and leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems:  Can be visited by scale, leafhoppers and various foliage-eating caterpillars. Has occasional problems with leaf spots, blight, and crown gall.