×2Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Small mammals
- Shelter & nesting
The nuts feed blue jays, woodpeckers, turkeys, squirrels and other wildlife, and the dense thickets give cover.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native shrub · edible
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–9
- Grows 8–12 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
No reviews yet. Be the first to reviewThe quick answer
American hazelnut is a native nut shrub for USDA zones 4-9 that grows 8-12 ft tall and 6-12 ft wide in full sun to part shade. It is grown for small, sweet hazelnuts and wildlife cover. It cannot pollinate itself, so plant two or more seedlings; expect nuts in about 4-5 years.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
This plant needs a partner. American hazelnut cannot pollinate itself, so plant at least two American hazelnut seedlings (each seedling is genetically different) within about 50 ft of each other.
Expert recommendedPollination partners we sell
-
×2Plant 2 American HazelnutEach seedling is genetically different, so two or more pollinate each other.
Planting a hedge or row?
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
American Hazelnut plant profile
Mature size8–12 ft tall · 6–12 ft wide
Typical (8 ft)Up to 12 ft
Multi-stemmed, rounded shrub that spreads by suckers.
USDA hardiness zones4–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Full sun gives the best nut crops; tolerates part shade. Nuts in about 4–5 years.
SoilpH 5.5–7.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist, well-drained loam or sandy soil and tolerates occasional drought.
Native to the USEdible harvestPlant two or moreYellow to orange-red fall colorWindbreakHedge & screen
Flowers & fruit
- Nuts in 4–5 yrs
- Edible
Yellow male catkins and tiny red female flowers open in early spring, followed by small round nuts in frilly, leafy husks that ripen in September-October.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow to orange-red in fall. Rounded, toothed green leaves turn yellow to orange-red in fall.
Pests & disease
Fairly tolerant of eastern filbert blight; Japanese beetles, scale and nut weevils can occur.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to remove old stems and unwanted suckers to keep it productive and in bounds.
Pollination
One American Hazelnut won't give you much of a crop. Two will.
Wind-pollinated and not self-fertile; plant two or more American hazelnut seedlings for nuts. Shipping on one plant is $9.95 and on two it's $10.95, so the second plant adds just $1 in shipping.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your American Hazelnut
SPRINGYellow male catkins and tiny red female flowers before leaves
SUMMERNuts form inside frilly, leafy husks
LATE SUMMERHusks turn brown; harvest in September-October
FALLYellow to orange-red leaves
Questions people ask about American Hazelnut
Do I need two American hazelnut plants to get nuts?
Yes. Hazelnuts do not self-pollinate, so plant at least two seedlings; each seedling is genetically different and can pollinate the other.
Are American hazelnut husks prickly?
No. The nuts sit in a soft, frilly, leaf-like husk that turns from green to brown as they ripen.
Is American hazelnut a tree or a shrub?
It is a multi-stemmed shrub that grows 8-12 ft tall and suckers into a thicket, though it can be pruned to fewer stems.
When do you harvest American hazelnuts?
Pick clusters in September to early October when husks start to brown, before squirrels and jays take them, and let them dry.
Can European hazelnut varieties pollinate my American hazelnut?
Do not rely on them; plant another American hazelnut seedling, which blooms at the same time and is hardy in the same climate.
What arrives when I order a hazelnut?
A dormant bare-root plant about 2-3 ft tall, shipped without leaves for spring or fall planting.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Plant its partner nearby.
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Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, Morton Arboretum, University of Wisconsin–Madison.