Common Name: American Hazel

General Information

Corylus americana is an open, upright, deciduous shrub or small tree usually growing around 1 - 3 metres tall, occasionally reaching 4 metres. The plant is strongly rhizomatous and can produce suckers freely, often forming colonial thickets in the wild[, ].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use of its edible seeds, which are very similar in flavour to the cultivated hazel and filbert nuts but somewhat smaller. The plant is also used as a medicine and as an ingredient in cosmetics. The plant has long been valued as an ornamental, where it can be grown as a hedge, and for planting in naturalized settings[].
Corylus americana has no known threats that will adversely affect it in the foreseeable future, though climate change will lead to changes in the plant's range. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2014)[].
Corylus americana is a weedy species, sometimes considered a pest and ruthlessly destroyed in carefully managed forests within its own range[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Central and eastern N. America - Saskatchewan to Quebec and Maine, south to Louisiana and Georgia

Habitat

Thickets and rich woods[, ]. Moist to dry open woods and thickets, hillsides, roadsides, fencerows, and waste places; at elevations from sea level to 750 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Corylus americana is a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to around -30°c when fully dormant.
An easily grown plant, it grows well in full sun to partial shade and will succeed in deep shade, though seldom fruit in such a position. It grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soils, but succeeds in most soils including chalk,and also in moderately dry situations[, , ]. It does well in a loamy soil[, ]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[, ].
This species has been reported to be cultivated in America for its edible seed, with some named varieties[, , ]. However, another report says that there are no cultivars of this species[].
This species is often of little value as a nut crop outside its native range[].
Plants can begin producing seed after the first year from planting out, and produce good seed crops every 2 - 3 years in the wild[].
Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[].
The plant is easily top-killed by spring and summer fires. The underground roots and rhizomes can survive low to moderately severe fires when the humus is moist, but they are relatively shallow and vulnerable to repeated summer fires when the humus is dry and combustible[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked in soups, bread, biscuits, sweets etc[, , ]. The nuts have a thick shell with a small sweet kernel[], they make an excellent dessert[]. Although smaller than the seeds of cultivated species, the seed is of the same general quality[]. Nuts at the 'milk' stage (before they are fully ripe) are softer and sweeter[]. The seed is rich in oil. Produced in clusters of 2 - 5, the fruit is a light brown, acorn-like nut 10 - 20mm long, wider than it is long[].
The seed ripens in mid to late autumn and will probably need to be protected from squirrels[]. When kept in a cool place, and not shelled, the seed should store for at least 12 months[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed,

Medicinal

A tea made from the bark is astringent[]. It was used in the treatment of hives and fevers[, ].
A poultice made from the bark is used to close cuts and wounds, treat tumours, old sores etc[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant makes a good screening hedge[].

Other Uses

The branches are sometimes used in basket making[].

The oil, as well as extracts of the leaves and seeds are all used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as skin conditioners[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame[]. Germinates in late winter or spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked in warm water for 48 hours and then given 2 weeks warm followed by 3 - 4 months cold stratification[]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or sheltered place outdoors for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[].
Layering in autumn. Easy, it takes about 6 months[, ].
Division of suckers in early spring. Very easy, they can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.