Hazelnut (Corlyus spp.)

Hybrid Hazelnuts are an excellent choice for food forests, silvopasture, and integrated farming systems due to their multifunctionality. Hazels represent a staple crop to replace olive oil and coconut oil that people in cold climates have grown reliant upon. They provide high-value nuts for human consumption and animal feed, support pollinators, and create habitat for wildlife. Their adaptability to diverse soil types and climates makes them a resilient addition to permaculture designs, while their ability to improve soil health and stabilize slopes enhances ecological restoration efforts. By integrating Hybrid Hazelnuts, growers can achieve productive, sustainable landscapes that support both biodiversity and agricultural needs.

Hybrid Hazelnuts grow as bushy, multi-stemmed shrubs with rounded canopies. They leaf out in spring with bright green foliage, followed by inconspicuous yellowish catkins in early spring, which are the male flowers. Female flowers are small and red, leading to nut clusters that mature in late summer to early fall. Over the years, they establish deep roots, improving drought tolerance and contributing to soil stability.

Size at Maturity- Shrub Layer. Typically grows to 8-15 feet tall with a similar spread. Large bushes can get upwards of 20 feet and can be pruned back for easier harvesting.

Current Size- XL Gellatly 2'+ , 1 year old seedling
Large Gellatly 1'-2', 1 year old seedling
XL OSU 2'+, 1 year old seedling
Large OSU 1'-2', 1 year old seedling
B Grade OSU 6"-12", 1 year old seedling

Hybrid Hazelnuts are the result of crossbreeding efforts to combine the high yields of European hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) with the hardiness of American hazelnuts (Corylus americana and Corlyus cornuta). Their nuts are a valuable source of protein and healthy fats, enjoyed by both humans and animals. In agroforestry systems, they are prized for their ability to provide dense hedgerows, shelter for wildlife, and natural feed for free-range livestock like pigs and poultry. Hazelnut wood is also used in crafting, toolmaking and fencing.