Common Name: American Hazelnut
Scientific Name: Corylus americana
Family: Betulaceae
Origin: Eastern North America
The American hazelnut is a small tree with a height of around 8-15 feet. The leaves, growing 2-6 inches long, are mostly dark green and ovate shaped with double serrated margins. When flowers are present, you’ll notice that the tree produces separate male and female flowers. Flowering occurs from March-April. This tree produces catkins, which are tightly clustered same sex flowers, that mostly lack petals and utilize wind to carry the pollen. The male catkins are yellow to brown colored and grow to around 2-3 inches long. The inconspicuous red female flowers appear at the tips of the branches. In late August through September edible nuts are produced, which are also called filberts.