What is Beaked Hazelnut?

Beaked hazelnut or Corylus cornuta is a deciduous shrub native to much of the northern United States and Canada. This large shrub is identified by a couple of different features. The first being its fuzzy oval leaves. They are soft to the touch. The plant also displays yellow catkins before the leaves emerge in the spring. You can identify it from its nut once developed. The nut of the filbert is covered by a husk that protrudes from the nut like a "beak". This common shrub is important wildlife for food and shelter.

Beaked Hazelnut as a Wildlife Plant

The Hazelnut shrub is a fun addition to any wildlife garden that has the space. The dense foliage of the tree provides cover and nesting opportunism for a variety of birds and mammals. The plant blooms with bright yellow catkins in the late winter, providing a food source for pollen loving insects.  The hazelnut produces a nut that is high in both protein and fat, which is crucial for wildlife before the winter. This shrub will help attract many birds such as woodpeckers and Steller's jays. It is also loved by chipmunks and Douglas squirrel.

Plant Growth Habits

The mature plant can reach about 8 meters in height and similar width. Consider pruning in late winter to reduce size when needed. The plant prefers to be planted in full sun to part shade, making it a versitile shrub for many spaces. The shrub prefers moist to dry soils. It is beneficial to water newly planted shrubs for the first two years while the plant is establishing roots.