Home → WV Guide → Planting Guide → Fruit Trees → Hazelnut / Filbert — Corylus spp. (American, European, Hybrid)

Hazelnut / Filbert — Corylus spp. (American, European, Hybrid)

Growing resilience through ancient wisdom and modern practice

← Back

Hazelnut / Filbert — Corylus spp. (American, European, Hybrid)

layout: base.njk title: Hazelnut / Filbert description: Growing Hazelnut / Filbert in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: fruit-tree

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree
Family: Betulaceae (birch family)
Sun: Full sun to partial shade (best nut production in full sun)
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0 (slightly acidic)
Hardiness: Zones 3-9 (American and hybrids excellent for WV Zone 6b/7a)
Chill hours: 800-1,200+ hours
Mature size: 8-15 ft tall x 8-15 ft spread (American, shrub); 12-20 ft (European, tree form)

📅 Planting Calendar (WV Zone 6b/7a)

Method Timing Notes
Plant bare-root March 15 - April 30 While dormant; early spring
Plant container April - May or September - October Fall planting OK in Zone 7
Bloom time February to March (very early, before leaves) Catkins (male) emerge in fall/winter; female flowers tiny red buds
Harvest September to October Nuts mature, drop from husks
Years to first nut 2-4 years (grafted/layered), 5-8 years (seedling) Hazelnuts fruit young

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Young shrub (5 yrs): 5-15 lbs
  • Mature shrub (10+ yrs): 20-50+ lbs per shrub (clones can produce much more)
  • Lifespan: 40-80 years (long-lived shrub)

🌿 Growing Conditions

Soil: Hazelnut is adaptable to many soil types. Prefers well-drained loam but tolerates clay, sandy, rocky soils. pH 6.0-7.0 optimal but tolerates 5.5-7.5. Incorporate compost at planting. Hazelnuts have shallow, fibrous root systems—mulch heavily to retain moisture and protect roots. Avoid waterlogged sites.

Rootstock: - Seedling (most common—hazelnuts grafted or layered on seedling rootstock) - Own roots (many sold as own-root plants from layering or tissue culture)

Note: Most hazelnuts sold are propagated by layering or tissue culture on own roots. Grafting less common. American hazelnuts often used as rootstock for European varieties.

Pollination: Hazelnut is monoecious but self-incompatible. Male catkins and female flowers on same plant, but pollen from same plant won't fertilize. Requires cross-pollination with genetically different variety. Wind-pollinated (catkins release pollen in late winter). Plant at least 2-3 different varieties within 30-50 ft for good nut set. Catkins emerge in fall, overwinter, release pollen in February-March (before leaves). Female flowers are tiny red buds, barely visible.

CRITICAL: Eastern filbert blight (see Diseases) is devastating to European hazelnuts. American hazelnuts are resistant but have small nuts. Hybrids combine American resistance with European nut size. For Zone 6, plant hybrid varieties bred for blight resistance.

Companions: - Nitrogen fixers: False indigo, native lupine, clover - Mycorrhizae: Inoculate at planting (hazelnuts form associations) - Wildlife plants: Hazelnut is excellent wildlife shrub—birds, squirrels, deer all use it

Avoid: - Black walnut (moderately sensitive to juglone) - Planting only one variety (won't pollinate) - European varieties without blight protection

Pests: - Filbertworm: Larvae infest nuts. Pheromone traps, mating disruption, timely harvest. Most serious pest in commercial orchards. - Aphids: Minor; beneficial insects handle them - Scale: Dormant oil if present - Deer: BROWSE HEAVILY. Hazelnut is deer candy. Protect with 6-8 ft cages or fencing for first 5+ years. This is CRITICAL—unprotected plants will be eaten to ground. - Squirrels: Will harvest nuts before you do. Net shrubs or harvest early.

Diseases: - Eastern filbert blight (Anisogramma anomala): THE defining hazelnut disease. Fungal disease native to Eastern US. American hazelnuts resistant; European hazelnuts HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE (often killed). Enters through wounds, causes cankers, girdles branches. Perithecia (black fungal fruiting bodies) appear in rows on branches. No cure. Control: - Plant RESISTANT varieties (hybrids, resistant Europeans) - Prune out infected branches 2 ft below canker - Disinfect tools - Fungicide sprays (chlorothalonil, propiconazole) protect but don't cure - Scout regularly, especially April-May

  • Bacterial blight: Cankers, dieback. Prune out, copper sprays.
  • Powdery mildew: Sulfur sprays if severe.
  • Root rot: In waterlogged soils. Improve drainage.

Pruning: Prune in late winter (February-March) when catkins are visible. Hazelnuts naturally grow as multi-stemmed shrubs. For nut production: - Maintain 6-12 main stems - Remove oldest stems every 3-5 years (renewal) - Remove weak, crossing, diseased branches - Thin crowded growth for air circulation (reduces blight risk) - Keep height manageable (8-12 ft) for harvest/netting

Hazelnuts fruit on 1-year-old wood, so heavy pruning reduces next year's crop. Balance renewal with production. Remove suckers if maintaining tree form (some European varieties).

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (10+)

Note on Species:

  • American Hazelnut (C. americana): Native to Eastern US. Small nuts (1/4-1/2 inch), thick shell. EXCELLENT blight resistance. Suckers freely, forms thickets. Zone 3-9.
  • European Hazelnut/Filbert (C. avellana): Larger nuts (1/2-3/4 inch), thinner shell. POOR blight resistance (Eastern US). Zone 5-9. "Hazelnut" = rounder; "Filbert" = more elongated (same species).
  • Hybrids: American × European crosses combining blight resistance + nut size.

'Jefferson' Hazelnut

  • Source: Oregon State University program, One Green World, Raintree Nursery
  • Bloom time: Very early (Feb-March)
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: 2009 Oregon State release. LARGE nuts (European size). IMMUNE to eastern filbert blight. Self-incompatible (needs pollinator). Upright growth. Best blight-resistant large-nut variety. Must-have for Zone 6.

'Yamhill' Hazelnut

  • Source: Oregon State University program, One Green World, Raintree
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: 2009 Oregon State release. Medium-large nuts. IMMUNE to eastern filbert blight. Self-incompatible. Good pollinator for 'Jefferson'. Upright growth. OSU breeding program.

'Dorris' Hazelnut

  • Source: Oregon State program, specialty nurseries
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: 2015 Oregon State release. Large nuts. Immune to blight. Self-incompatible. Good quality.

'Wepster' Hazelnut

  • Source: Oregon State program, specialty nurseries
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: 2015 Oregon State release. Small-medium nuts (good for baking). Immune to blight. Very high oil content. Self-incompatible.

'McDonald' Hazelnut

  • Source: Oregon State program, One Green World
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: Oregon State release. Large nuts. Resistant to blight. Self-incompatible. Good vigor.

'Skipton' Hazelnut

  • Source: Oregon State program, specialty nurseries
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: Oregon State release. Large nuts. Blight resistant. Self-incompatible.

'Barcelona' Hazelnut

  • Source: Many nurseries (but blight susceptible)
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: Traditional European variety. Large nuts, excellent flavor. NOT blight resistant—will likely die in Zone 6 without aggressive fungicide program. Not recommended unless willing to spray.

'Barcelona' Type Hybrids

  • Source: Hybrid hazelnut breeding programs
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: Look for "Barcelona-type" hybrids with blight resistance. Several breeding programs working on this.

American Hazelnut (C. americana)

  • Source: Native plant nurseries, Izaak Walton League, Wildwood Nursery
  • Bloom time: Very early (Feb-March)
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: TRUE NATIVE to WV/Eastern US. Small nuts (1/4-1/2 inch), thick shell, excellent flavor. BLIGHT RESISTANT. Suckers freely, forms dense thickets. Wildlife value极高. Zone 3-9. Collect local seed for best adaptation. Plant for conservation, wildlife, hedges.

'Gellatly' Hazelnut

  • Source: Badassett Farms, specialty nurseries
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: Old hybrid (American × European). Medium nuts. Good blight resistance. Cold hardy. Historical variety from British Columbia breeder.

'Todd' Hazelnut

  • Source: Hybrid hazelnut growers, Badassett Farms
  • Bloom time: Very early
  • Harvest: September
  • Notes: Hybrid. Medium-large nuts. Good blight resistance. Cold hardy.

Note on Varieties:

Oregon State University breeding program (led by Dr. Shawn Mehlenbacher) has revolutionized hazelnut culture with blight-immune varieties. For Zone 6, plant OSU releases ('Jefferson', 'Yamhill', etc.) or American hazelnuts. Avoid susceptible European varieties unless willing to spray regularly.

📜 Cultural History & Domestication

Domesticated: - European hazelnut (C. avellana): Domesticated in Turkey/Caucasus region ~9,000 years ago. One of oldest cultivated nuts. Wild hazelnuts still grow throughout Europe, Western Asia. - American hazelnut (C. americana): Never formally domesticated but used extensively by Native Americans.

Archaeological Evidence: Hazelnut shells found in Mesolithic sites throughout Europe (7000+ BCE). Roman sites show cultivated hazelnuts.

Historical Record: - Europe: Romans cultivated hazelnuts extensively. Hazelnuts were important winter food. Hazelnut oil used for cooking, lamps. Monasteries maintained hazelnut groves. - Native American Use: Cherokee, Iroquois, and Eastern tribes valued American hazelnut. Nuts eaten fresh, dried, ground into meal. Stems used for baskets, tools. - Colonial America: European settlers adopted hazelnut. American hazelnuts common in fence rows, woodlots. "Hazelnut browse" critical for livestock. - Oregon Industry: Commercial hazelnut production centered in Willamette Valley, Oregon (no eastern filbert blight there). 99% of US commercial production from Oregon. - Eastern Filbert Blight: Accidentally introduced to Eastern US from Europe ~1900s. Devastated European hazelnuts. American hazelnuts resistant. Breeding for resistant varieties began 1970s-1980s.

Cultural Significance: - European Folklore: Hazelnut symbolizes wisdom, protection. Divining rods often hazel wood. - Celtic Tradition: Hazel nuts of wisdom—salmon ate hazelnuts falling into water, gained wisdom. - Appalachian: American hazelnut was common understory shrub. Nuts gathered fall. Wildlife depended on mast.

Modern Context: - Breeding Progress: Oregon State University and other programs have produced blight-immune European-sized varieties (2009-2015 releases). This makes Eastern hazelnut production viable for first time in 100 years. - Permaculture: Hazelnut is permaculture ideal—early producer, wildlife-friendly, nitrogen-fixing companions, erosion control (suckering). - Culinary: Hazelnuts prized for baking, confections (Nutella), cooking. Sold for $8-15/lb. - Oil: Hazelnut oil is premium cooking oil. Cold-pressed oil sells for $20-40/bottle.

🌾 Propagation

Seed: Hazelnut seeds require 90-120 days cold stratification. Collect ripe nuts, store cool/dry, stratify in moist sand in refrigerator. Sow in spring. Germination 70-90%. Seedlings grow 1-2 ft first year. Seedlings variable in nut quality. Useful for rootstock or breeding.

Layering: Most common propagation method. Tip layering: bend 1-year-old stem to soil, wound it, bury tip 4-6 inches deep. Roots form in one season. Cut from parent, transplant. High success rate. This is how many named varieties propagated.

Grafting: Possible but less common. Whip-and-tongue in late winter. Chip budding in late summer. 60-80% success.

Tissue Culture: Increasingly available for named varieties. More expensive but disease-free and uniform.

Special Notes: - Deer protection is NON-NEGOTIABLE for first 5 years - Plant multiple varieties for pollination - Scout for eastern filbert blight regularly (April-May) - Mulch heavily (shallow roots)

📖 Sources Consulted

  1. Oregon State University Hazelnut Breeding Program (horticulture.oregonstate.edu) - Blight-resistant varieties
  2. One Green World (onegreenworld.com) - Hazelnut varieties, culture
  3. Raintree Nursery (raintreenursery.com) - Hazelnut selection, growing guides
  4. Badassett Farms (badassettfarms.com) - Hybrid hazelnuts, breeding
  5. West Virginia University Extension - Native fruit resources
  6. Mehlenbacher, Shawn. "Hazelnut Breeding and Genetics." Acta Horticulturae, 2000s-2010s.
  7. USDA NRCS Plant Guide - Corylus americana
  8. Native American Ethnobotany Database (naeb.brit.org) - Traditional uses
  9. Northern Nut Growers Association (nnga.org) - Variety trials

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead