SafePlants

Beaked Hazel (Corylus cornuta)

The Beaked Hazel, scientifically known as Corylus cornuta, is a deciduous shrub native to North America. It's appreciated for its edible nuts and attractive form, making it a valuable addition to gardens and wildlife habitats.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a shrub.

Considerations for Children

• This plant is a shrub.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Corylus cornuta Marsh.
• Family: Betulaceae (Birch Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Synonyms: C. rostrata (though this may be outdated)
• Common Names: Beaked Hazelnut, Beaked Filbert, Western Hazel, Wild Filbert, California Hazelnut, Turkish Filbert, Turkish Hazel

Distribution and Habitat

• Found throughout most of North America, from southern Canada to Georgia and California.
• Grows in dry woodland areas and prefers sun exposure.
• Also grows well at elevations below 1,000 feet.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• A deciduous, perennial shrub, occasionally a small tree.
• Typically multi-stemmed and grows from 6 to 16 feet in height, potentially reaching 20 ft tall.
• Can form dense thickets.
• Medium to fast-growing.
• Leaves are alternate, simple, oval to broadly ovate, 2 to 4 inches long, and toothed.
• Bark is light brown and smooth, becoming rougher with age.
• Male flowers appear as slender, dangling catkins.
• The defining feature is the 'beak-like' husks that hold the nuts. The "horn" or "beak" refers to the husk that encloses and projects past the nut.
• Young twigs and petioles are villous (finely soft-hairy).
• Leaves turn a beautiful yellow in the fall.

Quirky Facts

• The specific epithet "cornuta" comes from the Latin word for "horn," referring to the horny projection on the beaked fruit.

Ecological Role

• Used in wildlife habitat plantings.

Uses

• Commercially grown for its edible nuts.
• The edible nut was a staple food of the aboriginal peoples.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Wildlife are attracted to the nuts.