Research conducted and descriptions written by Burley Middle School 6th grade students in 2023 with minor editing by RCA staff.
The American hazelnut tree is also known as “the Nutella® tree,” or by its scientific name Corylus americana. It is a native deciduous shrub, in the Betulaceae or Birch family. Hazelnut trees can grow up to a height of 15-19 feet, and they bloom from late February to April. American hazelnut trees have different male and female flowers that can grow on the same plant. The male flowers are long and yellow, while the female flowers are small and bright red! It grows in full sun, and rich, moist, well drained soils. It provides both food and habitat to a variety of wildlife, and attracts squirrels, deer, turkeys, quail, woodpeckers, and many other birds. The American hazelnut has other benefits as well, including sequestering carbon, reducing soil erosion, and filtering pollutants out of groundwater.
Fun fact: It produces edible nuts in the late summer, and Nutella® is made out of hazelnuts from this kind of tree!