Description and habitat

American Hazel (Corylus americana) is one of ~15 species of Hazel worldwide, and one of only 2 species native to North America’s Great Lakes Region. The other species is the Beaked Hazel (Corylus cornuta). American Hazel is widely distributed throughout Eastern North America south to Louisiana, while Beaked Hazel is found across the Great Lakes Region, the Appalachian Mountains, and across the southern fringe of the Boreal Forest to the coastal areas along the Pacific Ocean. American Hazel is best distinguished from Beaked Hazel by its fruit, American Hazel has fringed bracts surrounding the fruit, less than twice as long as the nut itself. In contrast, Beaked Hazel has nuts encased in an elongated beak-like husk, many times the length of the nut.

The leaves of American Hazel are alternately arranged, 7-14 cm in length, slightly longer than wide, with pointed teeth. Each April, American Hazel produces male catkins 5-8 cm in length, whereas the female flowers are tiny and located on the tips of the bud. The fruit begins developing soon after pollination and ripens in August or September. Bark is grey-brown, typically smooth or slightly scaly. American Hazel can grow up to 10 m tall, in the form of a large shrub or small tree. It often spreads vegetatively by suckers produced by rhizomes attached to an interconnected root system. Hazel trees are members of the Birch Family, Betulaceae. They are unrelated to Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), another native shrub with similar leaves, which is closely related to Sweetgum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua).

Hazel trees are tolerant of both dry and moist conditions, occurring in shrublands, forests, and oak savannas. In shrublands and woodland understories, American Hazel is often found with hawthorns (Crataegus sp.), dogwoods (Cornus sp.), crabapples (Malus coronaria), wild plums (Prunus americana and Prunus canadensis), viburnums (Viburnum sp.), serviceberries (Amelanchier sp.), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), elderberries (Sambucus sp.), and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) in varying associations, depending on ecosystem type. In forests and oak savannas, American Hazelnut is found in the understory of oaks (Quercus sp.), maples (Acer sp.), ashes (Fraxinus sp.), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Basswood (Tilia americana), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Wildlife importance

Hazelnuts are enthusiastically sought out by a wide variety of wildlife species, including White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis and Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), flying squirrels (Glaucomys sp.), chipmunks (Tamias striatus), coyotes (Canis latrans), Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata), grouse (Phasianidae), turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), and Black Bears (Ursus americanus) find the nuts of this shrub irresistible. American Hazel foliage is a larval food source to more than 130 lepidopterans, including Eyed Baileya (Baileya ophthalmica), Spotted Apatelodes (Apatelodes torrefacta), Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Saddled Prominent (Heterocampa guttivitta), American Dagger (Acronicta americana), and Spotted Tussock moths (Lophocampa maculata).

Fun facts 

• Hazelnuts are edible for humans and have a sweet, nutty flavor – a popular wild food! They are a good source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins B1, B9, and E, minerals (i.e., manganese, copper), and fibre.
• American Hazel thickets can be used as a snow fence in the winter, acting as a barrier stopping problematic snow drifts.
• American Hazel is monoecious (having male and female flowers on the same tree), and wind-pollinated.
• Hazelnut oil has been used in cosmetics and beauty products, especially as a moisturizer.

 

Written by Matthew Palarchio, HBSc in Environmental Sciences, Western University.

Photo Credits (L-R)
Autumn leaf © Matthew Palarchio 
Summer foliage © Matthew Palarchio
Fruit Capsule © Allan Harris 

 

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