How to Plant and Grow American Hazelnut Trees

American hazelnuts (Corylus americana) are tree-like shrubs that produce an abundance of sweet, easy-to-crack nuts. You might already be familiar with the taste of hazelnuts, but you might not realize how easy they are to grow at home. This simple guide will walk you through the key needs these plants have so you can grow a hazelnut tree in your yard.

The American hazelnut is deciduous and produces unusual-looking flowers before the leaves emerge in spring. Both male and female flowers appear on each shrub. Male flowers appear in elongated clusters called catkins, similar to those of birch trees. The female flowers that produce the edible nuts are much less noticeable and mostly hidden by the buds.

Where to Plant American Hazelnuts

Native American hazelnuts adapt to a wide variety of soils and can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9 without difficulty. These plants often grow nearly 2 feet a year once established, topping out at about 15 feet so plant your hazelnuts where they'll have enough room to reach their mature size. They grow best in a full-sun location and well-draining soil.

Hazelnuts are attractive as individual plants, and several can be planted 10-12 feet apart for a windbreak or privacy screen. Three to five American hazelnut shrubs are recommended for reliable nut production. After the shrubs are established, they should produce nuts within three years, depending on local conditions.

How and When to Plant American Hazelnuts

American hazelnut can be planted as nursery-grown shrubs or seeds.

Nursery-grown plants: Spring or fall are both good times to plant this shrub, although planting in the fall is easier on the dormant plant. Dig a hole twice the size of the rootball of the plant and amend the soil for good drainage. Position the plant in the hole to sit at the same depth as in its nursery container. Backfill with the soil removed from the hole, watering as you go. Press down with your hands on the soil to prevent air pockets. The plant will produce nuts in about three years.

Seeds: American hazelnut seeds are best sown in the fall; they need to go through a period of cold stratification. Sow the seeds outside covered with 1 inch of amended garden soil and spaced about 15 feet apart. Germination takes months, but scarifying the seeds (scoring them with a file) speeds up the process. Cover the seed bed with a thick layer of mulch to protect the plants during the winter. The seeds can also be sown in 6-inch pots and grown in a cold frame for the winter. Wait until the seedlings are 10 inches tall to transplant them outdoors in spring. When growing from seed, expect to wait up to seven years for nuts.

American Hazelnut Tree Care Tips

Light

American hazelnut grows best in a full-sun location, but it can survive in partial shade with four hours of direct sunlight daily.

Soil and Water

American hazelnut grows in just about any soil as long as it drains well: acid, alkaline, loamy, sandy, or clay.

Temperature and Humidity

After it is established, the American hazelnut is hardy in USDA zones 4-9 and tolerates the hot and cold temperature extremes of those zones. These plants grow best in relatively high humidity of 65 percent or higher.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer is rarely required for established shrubs but may help seedlings become established. Use a slow-release granular product and follow the packaging instructions.

Pruning

American hazelnut shrubs don't require regular pruning. If you opt to prune these shrubs in the spring for size or shape after they bloom, be aware that you are removing the current year's nuts. As they age, the shrubs benefit from having some of the oldest, heavy canes cut back to the ground; late winter is the best time for this type of pruning.

Potting and Repotting American Hazelnut

American hazelnut is not a particularly good candidate for container planting because it grows rapidly and requires annual repotting to only a slightly larger container each year. When growing this plant, repot it in several well-draining containers over a series of years for the health of the root system, rather than in one big jump to a large container.

Pests and Problems

American hazelnut shrubs are somewhat pest-resistant, but several insects might be spotted on these plants, including leaf beetles, aphids, and moth caterpillars, although the damage is often only cosmetic.

Many birds, including blue jays, woodpeckers, and quail, feast on the nuts, while deer and rabbits are known to eat the twigs and leaves.

How to Propagate American Hazelnut

American hazelnut shrubs can be propagated by division and stem cuttings. They don't produce true-to-type from harvested seed.

Division: Use a sharp spade to cut a hazelnut shrub into several sections, each with a portion of roots and branches. Immediately replant the divisions in a prepared location. This process is easier to do when the shrub is relatively small.

Cuttings: Collect 6- to 10-inch softwood cuttings from the current season's growth. Remove the foliage from the bottom half of a cutting and dip it in rooting hormone powder. Fill a 6-inch pot with moist potting soil and use a pencil or similar device to make a hole in the center of the soil. Insert the cutting into the hole, being careful not to scrape off the rooting hormone. Press the soil around the stem and mist it. Cover the pot and stem with a clear plastic bag and put it in a warm place. Check the pot regularly and water as needed until you see new growth, indicating the cutting has rooted. Remove the plastic bag. Wait until the plant is at least 10 inches tall to transplant it to its permanent location.

How to Harvest American Hazelnuts

American hazelnuts ripen over a six-week period in September and October. Watch for the first nuts to fall to the ground and begin monitoring the shrubs for ripe nuts daily. If you plan to pick up the nuts that drop to the ground each day, you might have a bad surprise—the animals and birds are likely to beat you to them. Instead, leave those first nuts on the ground for the animals and harvest the ripe nuts directly from the plant.

Ripe nuts start to turn brown while the leaves around them remain green. Twist the nut and leaf clusters to harvest the nuts. Don't pick the nuts early because they won't taste good. If you aren't sure whether the nuts are ripe, shake the branches of the shrub gently while holding a container underneath to catch the ripe hazelnuts as they fall. Leave the nuts or nut clusters in a single layer in a warm, dry area for a couple of weeks until they are completely dry, and then remove any remaining leaves and the husks. Discard any nuts with cracking or holes or damage of any kind.

Eat the nuts—raw or roasted—right away or store them in the refrigerator for up to one year and use them in delicious recipes.