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Corylus americana

American Hazelnut

$0.00

Bare Root Plants
Out of Stock

There is a tiny, pink 'spider' of a flower early spring on the American Hazelnut, so inconspicuous, we don't advertise this plant as having a flower for 'showy' landscaping purposes.  The showy period for this tree is its developing hazelnut as shown in the photos.  The look and feel is that of a sticky wonton!  The Hazelnuts are edible and also called American Filberts. It is a rhizomatous tree, spreading by an underground root system.

American Hazelnut is a unisexual species, with separate male and female parts on the same branch. A single tree can produce nuts, but a small colony of trees may be needed for high yields.  Cross-pollination is achieved by wind.  European hazelnut, on the other hand, is self-incompatible, requiring a second plant for nut production.

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots
April/May October 1-2 years/12"

Corylus americana - American Hazelnut

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

6 Questions asked on Corylus americana

What type of soil mixture should I use in planting my Am. Hazelnut trees?
Hi Nancy. Thanks for your patience while I reached out to our Head Grower for advice. She said trees will do better if there is more good-quality soil and less mix in their planting hole.
Can A. Hazelnut handle windy open locations?
American Hazelnut does well in full sun locations. We have one growing on a windy ridge top here at the Prairie Moon office and it has been doing well! It is a multi-stemmed shrub, so I think it should put up a good fight against the wind once it is established.
I’m considering planting this on a small city lot. Is it hard to control the rhizomatous spread?
Hi Anne, No, it shouldn't be hard to control, if you are willing and able to stay on top of it.
Do you know on average how many pounds of nuts one plant might produce if planted in multiples? I've seen 20-25lbs for the hybrids, but I understand that the American species have smaller nuts.
Hi Sunny, Sorry, since these are wild-type plants grown from seed, and not the cultivated varieties typically used in agriculture, that information is not readily available.
How quickly do these plants grow? Would they tolerate coppicing in the way willows do?
Hi Nick. Growth rates will vary depending on your site conditions and local weather, etc. But as a gauge, the American Hazelnuts we have on campus average 7 feet tall and are about 10 years old. This species tolerates extensive pruning, but we would not recommend a total, "flat-cut" coppice trim - leave a few good stems for their beauty and wildlife benefits.
Concerning the rhizomatous spread, would you say it is comparable to the spread of sumac? You answered another question by saying, “as long as one is willing to stay on top of it”. What exactly would that entail? Would consistently mowing the sprouts around it be enough?
Hi Tena. American Hazelnut forms thickets - very similar to how sumacs spread. Mowing will keep the majority of suckers under control. Some pruning may be necessary if you prefer a more tidy-looking shrub.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Germination Code
M
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full, Partial
Soil Moisture
Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height
up to 8 feet
Bloom Time
April
Bloom Color
Pink
Advantages
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perch
USDA Zones
4-9
Plant Spacing
2-6'
Catalog Code
COR04T