Corylus cornuta aka Beaked Hazelnut

Corylus cornuta is a deciduous shrub in the birch family. Its common names include beaked hazel and beaked filbert. It grows in Canada and the United States. Its range runs from British Columbia east to Quebec. It extends south to Illinois and Georgia. Wild plants grow beside woods, streams, and open clearings. They also occur in rocky woods and swamps.

Garden plants often reach 4–8 feet (1.22–2.44 metres) tall and wide. NC State lists heights reaching 14 feet (4.27 metres). It gives spreads reaching 12 feet (3.66 metres). Roots send up suckers that can form dense thickets. The bark starts smooth and pale gray-brown. Older bark develops a faint, net-like pattern. Slender, pale brown twigs bend in a zigzag shape. Some twigs bear glandular hairs, while others lack hairs. Bright green leaves range from oval to almost round. Their bases are rounded or shaped like a heart. Leaf edges have two sets of teeth. Hairs often grow along the leaf veins.

Flowers appear from February to April, depending on the site. Male flowers hang in pale yellow catkins. Tiny red female flowers sit mostly hidden within bracts. The flowers have little value as a garden display. The fruit has more visual interest and is edible. Each nut sits inside a pale green, hairy husk. The husk extends past the nut, making a long beak. Nuts ripen in late August and September. Fruit can remain on display into October.

Grow this shrub in sun or partial shade. It prefers moist, acidic soil that drains well. Soil rich in organic matter suits it best. It accepts ordinary garden soil, but not untreated heavy clay. Sources place it in USDA zones 4–8. Missouri Botanical Garden cautions that hardiness can vary near St. Louis. A sheltered spot may help there. Early spring frost can damage flower buds. Remove root suckers to limit thickets and keep a tidier shape. Use it for hedges, shrub borders, or woodland plantings.

Squirrels, deer, grouse, and pheasants eat the nuts. The shrub also attracts butterflies. Native Americans ate its nuts and made arrows from its wood. They twisted shoots into rope and used the plant medicinally. Serious pest and disease issues are uncommon. Japanese beetles can strip leaves from parts of the shrub. Scale, black knot, crown gall, and leaf spots sometimes occur. Reports describe good resistance to filbert blight. The species evidence confirms edible nuts but gives no toxicity assessment.