The American Hazelnut is a small-sized, deciduous shrub native to the eastern and central U.S and Canada. This shrub is part of the Birch family (Betulaceae) and grows naturally in rocky woodlands, forests, hillsides, pastures, and thickets.

The American Hazelnut produces a 1/2-inch brown nut that is encircled by a hairy, leaf-like husk. The nuts are edible in the fall when they mature, typically from September to October. The nuts are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, wild turkeys, chipmunks, black bears, foxes, white-tailed deer, skunks, and squirrels.

The shrub is heavily cultivated for human consumption in the U.S. and Europe (for the nuts known as filberts). The twigs and leaves are also browsed by white-tailed deer. American hazelnut is also a host plant for caterpillars of the Saturniidae moths.

Images courtesy of:
Richard Webb
Iowa State University
Indiana University