Western Hazel
Corylus cornuta ssp. Californica, 1 gal.
Description: In the birch family, the California hazelnut is a hardy shrub growing in full sun to shade and moist to relatively dry soil. It is among the first plants to bloom, its long catkins emerging between mid-winter and early spring. The leaves, which are deeply ridged with a slightly crinkly texture and serrated edges, turn a bright yellow in the fall. Attractive pale green leafy husks hide the maturing nuts which by late summer are a tasty and nutritious snack for humans and wildlife alike. Unlike the commercially grown European varieties, the native hazelnut is resistent to eastern hazelnut blight. If suckers are left unchecked, it will eventually form a thicket.
photo credit: Native beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta with bristle covered husk,
eXtension Farm Energy Community of Practice, Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
