# American hazelnut (*Corylus americana*) The American hazelnut is a bushy plant that produces tasty nuts! These nuts are small and round, and they grow in clusters. The leaves are green and have a lovely shape. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![American hazelnut](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Corylus_americana1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corylus_americana1.jpg) ## Appearance The American hazelnut is a multi-stemmed shrub with broad, fuzzy, toothed leaves that turn yellow-orange in fall. In early spring, male catkins hang like slender tassels, while tiny female flowers appear as red tufts. Its edible nuts are encased in distinctive leafy, frilly husks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Betulaceae - **Genus:** Corylus ## Interesting facts - Did you know the fuzzy 'jacket' on a hazelnut helps protect it as it grows? - Its male flowers release clouds of pollen even before its leaves emerge in spring! - Native Americans used strong hazelnut branches to weave sturdy baskets and build shelters! - Wild turkeys and deer love to munch on its crunchy nuts and tender twigs! ## Special abilities - **Wind Whisperer:** American hazelnut can release clouds of pollen into the wind, allowing it to spread its genes far and wide for reproduction. - **Nutty Nest:** American hazelnut has nutritious nuts protected by a leafy husk, which attracts animals to eat and disperse its seeds. - **Root Networker:** American hazelnut can spread underground using root suckers, allowing it to form dense thickets for protection and rapid growth. - **Early Bloomer:** American hazelnut blooms very early in spring before leaves appear, giving its wind-borne pollen a clear path to travel. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-550 cm - **Spread:** 200-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Feeds on the nutritious hazelnuts - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its leaves and twigs - **Eats:** [Ruffed Grouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruffed-grouse) (*Bonasa umbellus*) — Consumes its buds during winter - **Shelter:** [Yellow-rumped Warbler](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-rumped-warbler) (*Dendroica coronata*) — Uses branches for nesting and foraging ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before eating any nuts you find in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American hazelnut? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American hazelnut? 300-550 cm ### How wide does American hazelnut spread? 200-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on American hazelnut? 1-5 cm ### When does American hazelnut bloom? Early spring ### Is American hazelnut edible? Yes ### Is American hazelnut toxic? None ### What is American hazelnut's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesker-park-zoo-and-botanic-garden) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [Andrews Geyser](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/andrews-geyser) — North Carolina, US · Nature Reserve - [Canoe Landing Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canoe-landing-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [ME's Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mes-zoo) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [Millington](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/millington) — Connecticut, US · Neighborhood - [McLean Central Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mclean-central-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see American hazelnut](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-hazelnut) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American hazelnut: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-hazelnut)