American Hazelnut Shrub

Corylus Americana, the American hazelnut is a native shrub with good looks, four-season interest, and easy care that makes it a classic, old-fashioned shrub in the Midwest. A lovely native shrub with a rounded shape and graceful branching habit, this is a plant that can take its place in any number of garden settings. On hazelnut plants, plump green catkins appear early in the spring as winter ends. By summer the shrub is full and bushy and in early fall, it will produce a cluster of hazelnuts.

Gardeners love this shrub because it is so adaptable to a number of planting ideas. Whether you are looking for a feature plant, a grouping of shrubs for a mixed border, or a naturalizing planting, Corylus americana is an excellent native shrub that will bring shape and movement to your landscape. This shrub has attractive foliage with warm colors that change to shades of gold, russet, and soft copper in the fall.

It is a great addition to gardens for wildlife as well. Birds and native mammals use its hazelnuts as a food source in late summer, and the shrub’s branching habit is excellent for nesting and cover. Home gardeners appreciate its ability to grow in sun or part shade, and in a wide variety of soils. It’s also easy to grow and maintain. The biggest requirement is to make sure it has good soil and enough moisture the first season after planting. Beyond that, it quickly establishes itself and is good for adding native structure, four-season appeal, and low-maintenance growth to your garden.

Hazelnut shrubs offer subtle, natural beauty as a garden plant. Whether you are looking to create a garden with wildlife in mind, add to a natural border, or add native shrubs to create soft architectural form in the landscape, this is a great choice. It is a dependable shrub that will add to your garden each month of the year. The native American hazelnut (Corylus americana) is a good choice for a dependable native shrub with a graceful shape and good fall color.