Corylus cornuta

Common Name(s):

Beaked Hazelnut

Phonetic Spelling

kor-EE-lus kor-NOO-tuh

Description

Beaked Hazelnut is a deciduous shrub found in the dry rocky woodlands, forests, and swamps in Canada and the U.S.A. In NC it is found in the Piedmont and mountain areas. It can form thickets if the root suckers are not removed. They are grown commercially for the nut and used in wildlife preserves to provide food.

Separate male and female flowers bloom and early spring and are followed by an edible nut that matures in fall. It is enclosed in a husk that extends outward to form a beak giving it the common name.

This plant prefers acidic moist soil with good drainage in full sun to partial shade. Due to its thicket-forming habit, it is best used in naturalized sites or to form a hedge or barrier.

See this plant in the following landscape:

Cultivars / Varieties:

var. californica
Found on the western part of the country

var. californica

Tags:

#deciduous #deciduous shrub #native shrub #security plant #NC native #spreading #thickets #naturalized area #food source fall #food source herbage #food source hard mast fruit #FACU Piedmont Mountains #Coastal FACU

Male and female flowers Erika Mitchell CC BY-NC 4.0

Fruit Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS CC0 1.0

Twig & Buds - March - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Cultivars / Varieties:

var. californica
Found on the western part of the country

var. californica

Tags:

Attributes:
Genus:

Corylus

Species:

cornuta

Family:

Betulaceae

Uses (Ethnobotany):

Native Americans used the nuts for food, the wood for arrows and other items and the shoots were twisted into rope. It was also used medicinally.

Life Cycle:

Woody

Country Or Region Of Origin:

Canada, U.S.A.

Wildlife Value:

Fruits are eaten by squirrels, deer, grouse and pheasant.

Edibility:

Nuts are edible

Dimensions:

Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.

Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Native Plant

Perennial

Shrub

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Habit/Form:

Spreading

Maintenance:

High

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

Clay

Loam (Silt)

Sand

Soil pH:

Acid (<6.0)

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Moist

Occasionally Dry

NC Region:

Coastal

Mountains

Piedmont

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Fruit:
Fruit Value To Gardener:

Edible

Display/Harvest Time:

Fall

Fruit Type:

Nut

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Fruit Description:

Fruit on female plants is a hard edible nut up to 1/2 inch long enclosed in a leafy, hairy, light green husk that extends beyond the nut by at least one inch to form a beak. Displays from September to October

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Gold/Yellow

Red/Burgundy

Flower Inflorescence:

Catkin

Insignificant

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Description:

Male flowers are yellowish drooping catkins and the tiny red female flowers are mostly concealed in bracts. Blooms from February to April

Leaves:
Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Leaf Shape:

Elliptical

Leaf Margin:

Doubly Serrate

Hairs Present:

Yes

Leaf Description:

Up to 4-inch long oval to nearly round leaves have doubly serrated margins and rounded or heart-shaped bases. They are bright green and usually hairy along the veins.

Stem:
Stem Color:

Brown/Copper

Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Stem Surface:

Hairy (pubescent)

Stem Description:

The twigs are light brown, sometimes with glandular hairs.

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Naturalized Area

Landscape Theme:

Edible Garden

Native Garden

Design Feature:

Hedge

Attracts:

Butterflies

Small Mammals

Songbirds

Plant DetailShow Menu

Corylus cornuta

Common Name(s):