Beaked Hazelnut Corylus cornutaAlternative names: Beaked hazelFrench: Noisetier à long bec Beaked Hazelnut is one of two native hazelnut species in our region, and a fantastic choice for edible landscaping or wildlife gardens. This multi-stemmed shrub produces small but tasty nuts, each enclosed in a long, beak-like husk—hence its name. While the nuts are edible for humans, they are so highly prized by wildlife that they rarely remain on the bush for long. Squirrels, birds, and other small mammals usually strip the shrubs within days of ripening, making this species a key food and habitat plant. It also serves as a host plant for many butterfly and moth species, whose caterpillars provide additional nourishment for birds. Beaked Hazelnut grows in woodlands, thickets, and riparian edges. It is very adaptable—tolerating full sun to partial shade, and moist to somewhat dry soils once established. It thrives in sandy, loamy, or clay soils, and tolerates both well-drained and poorly drained conditions, as well as slightly alkaline pH levels. Height & Spread: 2 to 4 mBloom time: Early spring (catkins); nuts mature late summerLight: Full sun to part shadeMoisture: Moist preferred; drought-tolerant once establishedSoil: Sandy, loamy, or clay; well-drained to poorly drainedHabitat: Woodlands, thickets, riverbanksEcological benefits: Nuts for birds and mammals; caterpillar host plantEdible: Nuts edible (small but tasty); usually harvested by wildlife
