Fauna
Plant

American Hazelnut

Corylus americana

Also known as American Hazel, American Filbert

American hazelnut forms dense, suckering thickets along forest borders and prairie edges, spreading through subterranean rhizomes. In early spring before the foliage unfolds, male catkins elongate into golden tassels that shed abundant pollen to the wind, while inconspicuous female flowers reveal tiny crimson stigmas. By late summer, clusters of hard-shelled nuts develop concealed inside ruffled, glandular-hairy leaf-like bracts that provide staple nutrition for regional wildlife.

DeciduousThicket-FormingWind-Pollinated
American Hazelnut reference1 / 7
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Nutrients
Predators
  • Eastern Grey Squirrel
  • Wild Turkey
  • White-tailed Deer
ThreatsHabitat conversion, invasive shrub competition, and heavy deer browsing
HabitatsDeciduous forest edges, savannas, thickets, prairies, and fencerows
Life span30–50 years
Classification
  1. OrderFagales
  2. FamilyBetulaceae
  3. GenusCorylus
  4. SpeciesCorylus americana
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Identification: Look for drooping male catkins in late winter and glandular bristly twigs.
  • Wildlife Watching: Scan autumn thickets to observe squirrels and songbirds harvesting mast.
Related species
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