Hazelnut is our 2025 Plant of the Month for March. This native shrub is commonly found in wooded areas on on woodland edges, from the Great Plains eastward. It can be a large shrub, growing 4 to 15 feet tall and can be thicket forming. It is one of our earliest blooming shrubs, starting its bloom cycle in March, before most pollinators are awake yet. That is because hazelnut is wind pollinated.
The American hazelnut (Corylus americana) is a member of the Birch Family, and is related to Beeches, Oaks, Birches, and Walnuts. And they share many of the same insect and animal pests. It is monoecious, meaning that both the male and female flowers are on the same plant. But wind is necessary for pollinations, and cross-pollination from other plants is best for a good crop of nuts. The nuts, which are sweet and edible both raw and cooker, come in little papery husks which are actually flower bracts.
Faunal Associations of Hazelnut
Fauna means wildlife. What animals and insects interact with this native shrub? Humans and animals alike eat the nuts of hazelnut. Indeed, hybridization and selection for larger nuts has been done for human consumption. ‘Sun Harvest’ is one of the best cultivars of the species, and it grows best in full sun, rather than the part shade of the native. The nuts can be eaten raw or cooked and are used in famous brands like Ferreror Rocher. My wife likes to roast hazelnuts and coat them in butter and cocoa powder for a tasty winter snack.
Birds
Birds are the biggest consumers of the nuts. Many birds in our eastern forests are feeders on various smaller nuts, and certain ones are more commonly attracted to hazelnuts. The following is a short list of various birds you may see coming for the nuts.
- Blue Jays
- Pileated woodpecker
- Red-bellied woodpecker
- Acorn woodpecker
- Bobwhite Quail
- Wild turkey
- Ring-necked pheasant
- Ruffed grouse
Some of these, like the blue jay, may bury the nuts for later eating, and not get back for various reasons. This is one way in which new plants are established and moved from area to area.
Insects
The American hazel is a host plant for a variety of specialist insects, as well as more generalist feeders. There are several species of leafhopper, treehopper, and aphids which primarily feed on it. And there are at least 19 species of moths and butterflies which use it as a host plant. The more prominent species include the Luna moth, Polyphemus moth, filbertworm moth, Early Hairstreak Butterfly, and the Corylus Dagger moth.
Uses of Hazelnut
Besides being an excellent landscape plant for the garden or edge of the property, hazelnut has been used for centuries for a variety of things by settlers and Native Americans. We have already talked about the nuts. But the stems or wood was also used for a variety of things. Young shoots and branches are still used for basket making and in the garden for woven fences and trellises. The older branch or stem wood can be used to make walking sticks, arrow shafts, and kindling.
Companion Plants in the Garden
Hazelnut makes a great addition to the garden not only for its wildlife value, but also for its ability to grow in part shade or full sun locations. I have some planted along the eastern border of my property, in a wooded area that gets only 4-6 hours of sun per day. It can be a large shrub so one must think about companion plantings, and spacing carefully. Be sure to locate companions far enough away to give the plants room to spread.
Woodland Border Companions
- Hostas
- Spicebush
- American bladdernut
- Indian pink
- Coral bells
- Ferns
- Red columbine
- Nodding wild onion
- Foamflower
- Virginia waterleaf
- Blue wood phlox
Sunny Hazelnut Companions
- Catmint
- Slender mountain mint
- Calamint
- Penstemon
- Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’
- Zigzag Goldenrod
- Aromatic aster
- Swamp milkweed
- Serviceberry ‘Standing Ovation’
- Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’
- Buttonbush
- Diervilla
Conclusion
American hazelnuts are native shrubs which are under-utilized in the landscape. As our March Plant of the Month, this shrub deserves some attention for its wildlife attractiveness, edibility, and value as a landscape shrub for various sun or shade locations. If you do not already have it in your landscape, then I would recommend getting some.
Happy planting!
