Hazelnut Tree

A multi-stemmed shrubby tree that produces delicious nuts in attractive husked clusters in late summer and autumn. Hazelnuts are wind-pollinated and need a compatible pollinator variety nearby, so plant at least two different cultivars. They thrive in moderate climates and tolerate partial shade better than most nut trees. Eastern filbert blight is the primary concern for growers east of the Rockies, so choose resistant varieties when available.

Hazelnuts are propagated by several methods. Layering, where a low branch is bent to the ground, covered with soil, and allowed to root, is the traditional home method and produces plants true to the parent variety. Tie-off layering or mound layering of the entire bush base are both effective. Hardwood cuttings taken in late winter can root with rooting hormone. Seeds require 3 to 4 months of cold stratification and produce variable seedlings. Named varieties are commercially propagated by layering or tissue culture for uniformity.

The Season Plate

Your Hazelnut Tree Year

Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1

Sow Hazelnut Tree Mar – Apr, Nov, pick Sep – Oct. Set your climate below and every date on this plate re-times itself.

Sowing window

Mar – Apr, Nov

re-timed to your frost dates

Plant out

after Apr 2

once frost risk has passed

First picking

around Mar 14

≈ 1460 days from sowing · 1 to per plant

Composed for —ColdTemperateMildWarmUse my locationUsed once to set your season · only the zone is kept

Week-by-week Hazelnut Tree reminders watering, feeding and pruning, timed to your dates

In the app

Frost alerts for your garden a warning before a cold night costs you the crop

In the app

Succession sowing dates so the picking never gaps mid-season

In the app

Prefer email? Get monthly reminders in the Almanac

Keep my dates — free for 7 daysWe nudge you as each window opens · cancel anytime

Hazelnut trees, also known as filberts, are multi-stemmed, shrubby trees reaching 12 to 20 feet tall. They thrive in moderate climates with cool, moist winters and mild summers, similar to the Pacific Northwest or maritime Europe. Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Hazelnuts tolerate more shade than any other nut tree but produce best crops in full sun. Space trees 15 to 20 feet apart.

Hazelnuts are wind-pollinated and require cross-pollination from a compatible variety that sheds pollen at the same time. This timing is critical because hazelnuts bloom in late winter, with male catkins releasing pollen in January and February when the tiny red female flowers are receptive. Plant at least two different varieties within 50 feet of each other. Water regularly during the first 2 to 3 years, then reduce to supplemental irrigation during dry periods.

Hazelnuts naturally grow as multi-stemmed bushes but can be trained to a single trunk or small tree form. If growing as a bush, allow 3 to 5 main stems and remove suckers growing from the base to prevent the planting from becoming an impenetrable thicket. Prune in late winter to remove dead wood, thin the interior for air circulation, and maintain shape. Begin harvesting nuts at 3 to 4 years of age, with full production reached at about 8 years. Annual yields of 10 to 25 pounds per bush are typical.

Hazelnuts work well in mixed hedgerows and agroforestry systems, providing habitat for wildlife while producing a nut crop. Underplant with shade-tolerant ground covers like white clover, wood sorrel, or native violets. In food forest designs, hazelnuts occupy the shrub layer between larger canopy trees and ground-level plants. Comfrey planted nearby provides nutrient-rich mulch material. Avoid planting near walnut trees due to potential juglone sensitivity. Spring bulbs and wildflowers thrive beneath the light hazelnut canopy.

The Society Table

Marigold belongs beside it. Walnut Tree doesn't.

Old growers' knowledge, checked against Hazelnut Tree's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.

Grows well in the company of · 1

Marigold

Keep apart · 1

Walnut Tree

Plant Hazelnut Tree with good neighboursThe planner flags conflicts before they're in the ground

Hazelnuts prefer well-drained loamy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. They tolerate a wider range of conditions than most nut trees but struggle in heavy, waterlogged clay or extremely sandy soil. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring, using about one-quarter pound of actual nitrogen per year of tree age. Boron deficiency causes blank nuts and reduced kernel development; apply borax at one ounce per tree annually if deficiency is suspected. Avoid excessive nitrogen that promotes vegetative growth over nut production.

Ideal Temperature

Hardiness Zone Compatibility

Hazelnuts mature in September and October, indicated by the husks turning brown and the nut separating easily from the husk. Allow nuts to fall naturally or shake branches to dislodge ripe clusters. Collect from the ground daily to prevent moisture damage and squirrel theft. Remove husks and dry the nuts in a warm, well-ventilated area for 2 to 4 weeks until the kernel snaps cleanly when broken. Properly dried hazelnuts rattle in the shell when shaken.

Storage & Preservation

Dried in-shell hazelnuts store at room temperature for 3 to 4 months and in the refrigerator for up to a year. Shelled kernels keep best in the freezer in airtight containers for up to 2 years. Roasting brings out the characteristic hazelnut flavor and makes the thin brown skin easier to rub off. Hazelnuts are outstanding ground into flour, made into hazelnut butter, or combined with chocolate in spreads and confections. Hazelnut oil is a prized culinary oil for salad dressings and finishing dishes.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Eastern filbert blight is the most devastating disease for hazelnuts grown east of the Cascade Range and can kill susceptible trees within a few years. Choosing resistant varieties is the single most important decision for growers in affected areas. Blank nuts with no kernel development result from poor pollination or boron deficiency. Squirrels are the primary pest competitor, often harvesting the crop before the grower. Suckering from the base requires regular removal to prevent the planting from becoming an unmanageable thicket.

Growing Tips

1. Always plant at least two different hazelnut varieties within 15 metres of each other to ensure cross-pollination, as most cultivars are self-incompatible and will produce empty shells without a compatible pollinator nearby.
2. Train hazelnut bushes as a single-trunk tree or an open multi-stemmed goblet with six to eight main stems by removing all suckers and basal shoots regularly during the first three to four years after planting.
3. Apply a 10 to 15 cm deep mulch ring of wood chips, bark, or straw around the base of each tree extending to the drip line, keeping mulch 10 cm away from the trunk to prevent bark rot and rodent harbourage.
4. Water deeply and consistently during the kernel-filling period from July through September, as drought stress during this critical window leads to poorly developed kernels, blanks, and reduced overall yield.
5. Prune during full dormancy between November and February, removing dead wood, crossing branches, and any new suckers at the base, while maintaining an open centre for good light penetration and air circulation.
6. Protect young trees from squirrel and jay damage by installing wire mesh cages or netting around developing nut clusters from August onward when the nuts become attractive to wildlife.
7. Test soil pH annually and maintain it between 5.5 and 7.0 for optimal nutrient uptake; hazelnuts prefer slightly acidic to neutral soils and may develop chlorosis in highly alkaline conditions above pH 7.5.
8. Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring just as buds begin to swell, using approximately 100 grams per year of tree age scattered evenly under the canopy drip line and watered in thoroughly.
9. Monitor for Eastern Filbert Blight in regions where it is present by inspecting branches for dark cankers in summer; promptly remove and burn any infected wood at least 60 cm below the visible canker margin.
10. Harvest nuts promptly as they fall naturally in September and October by gathering from the ground every two to three days, and cure them on drying racks in a warm well-ventilated space for two to three weeks before storage.