American Hazelnut Corylus americana
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-EE-lus a-mer-ih-KAY-na
- Description
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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.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Leaf: Fall Blooms: Winter/early spring Nut/Fruit/Seed: Late summer/fall
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. This plant suffers damage from deer
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Corylus
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- United State and Canada
- Distribution:
- Eastern and Mid United States into Canada
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- 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.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit matures into a globe-shaped (edible) nut ½ inch in diameter with a leafy covering between July-August
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Males flower in yellow or light brown catkins 1-3 inches. Female flowers are inconspicuous along the stem with red stigma at tip of the bud.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple leaf, broadly oval with heart- shaped or rounded base, doubly serrated margin
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Bark is light grayish brown and smooth with a criss-cross pattern as it ages. Outer thin layer becomes slightly grooved
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
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Viburnum rufidulum
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Prunus americana
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Asimina triloba
