Corylus americana

Before the dark-green toothed leaves cover this pretty 6-15' multi-stemmed native shrub, spring brings attractive 2-3" showy yellow male catkins, these pollinate the small red inconspicuous female catkins to become about the cutest little nuts ever, 'helmeted' with papery, fringed bracts, (Corylus comes from the Greek korys meaning helmet). These nuts although much smaller, have as just as sweet a kernel as the commercial form (if you can get to them!), they are mostly enjoyed mostly by squirrels and birds; variable but nice fall color from yellow to rose. S-PSh/M

American Hazelnut or "Filbert" is an easy to grow native shrub for a wide range of conditions. It produces tasty nuts in late summer that are prized by humans and wildlife alike. Deep green leaves turn to copper reds and yellows for an autumn show. Thicket forming, Corylus americana can be pruned at any time of year. Zones 4-9.

American filbert (also commonly called hazelnut) is a deciduous, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub which typically grows 8-16' tall in dry or moist thickets, woodlands and wood margins, valleys, uplands and prairies. Monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same plant). In spring, male flowers appear in showy, 2-3" long, yellowish brown catkins and female flowers appear in small, reddish, inconspicuous catkins. Female flowers give way to small, egg-shaped, 1/2" long, edible nuts (maturing July-August) which are encased in leafy, husk-like, ragged-edged bracts. Nuts are similar in flavor to the European filbert, and may be roasted and eaten or ground into flour, Fall color is quite variable, ranging from attractive combinations of orange, rose, purplish red, yellow and green