American Hazelnut

Corylus americana

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Betulaceae
Genus:: Corylus
Species:: Corylus americana

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub
Height:: 12-20 ft
Light Requirements:: Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: Medium
Bloom Months:: apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:: White, Green
Landscaping Shrub:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acrobasis coryliella, Acrobasis normella, Anacampsis tristrigella, Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Barred umber (Plagodis pulveraria), Bucculatrix callistricha, Bucculatrix fugitans, Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Cameraria corylisella, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Ectoedemia quadrinotata, Ectoedemia virgulae, Epinotia walkerana, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Io moth (Automeris io), Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), Menesta tortriciformella, Mournful Thorn (Lambdina fiscellaria), Nites grotella, Phyllonorycter intermixta, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Rusty Tussock Moth (Orgyia antiqua), Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), Unicorn caterpillar moth (Schizura unicornis), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: good drainage preferred
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: thrives in open woodlands and forest edges

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are sown during late October by hand in prepared field beds.

Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Seeds are wild collected during fall months and are kept separated according to site, elevation and source. Seed sources are from south central Missouri.

Source: npn.rngr.net