American Hazelnut

Year-round

American hazelnut is a tough, low-fuss shrub that grows well in north Florida once it settles in, and Tallahassee's climate falls right in its comfort zone.

• Give it part shade to part sun. UF/IFAS lists this shrub as hardy from USDA zone 7 through zone 9, and Tallahassee sits in zone 9a, so it is within range.
• It handles a lot of different soils, sandy, clay, acidic, or alkaline, as long as the spot drains reasonably well.
• Water it regularly while it gets established. Once it has settled in, it usually needs little or no extra water if it is planted somewhere that stays naturally moist.
• It grows into a wide, multi-stemmed shrub and spreads by sending up new shoots from its roots over time, so plan for it to widen.
• No major pest or disease problems are typically reported on this plant.

This shrub spreads by root suckers into a wide, multi-stem thicket over time. For an HOA-friendly look, give it room away from the property line and walkways, and plan to cut back suckers if you want to keep it tidy and contained.

Fall

Fall is when this shrub puts on its best show in Tallahassee, with nuts ripening and the leaves turning color as the weather finally cools off.

• Nuts ripen and drop in fall. Birds and squirrels eat them, so expect some cleanup or wildlife visitors underneath the shrub.
• The foliage turns a bright color before it drops for the season.
• Tallahassee's average first frost usually lands in mid-to-late November. Once the leaves are down and the plant has gone dormant, this is a good window for any structural pruning or thinning out suckers.
• Keep watering through fall if the weather stays dry. Once the plant is dormant, established shrubs generally do not need it.

Winter

Winters in Tallahassee are mild with just a few real cold snaps, which makes this the easiest season for the shrub and the best window for major pruning.

• Tallahassee's zone 9a winters rarely drop below the low 20s Fahrenheit, well within what this shrub can take since it is listed hardy down through zone 7.
• Late winter, while the shrub is still bare and dormant, is the best time for any major structural pruning or removing old, crowded stems.
• It does not need winter watering once established, unless the season turns unusually dry.
• Watch for new root suckers to start popping up again as the shrub wakes up toward the end of winter.

Spring

Spring in Tallahassee is establishment and light cleanup season for this shrub, and new growth can still get caught by a late cold snap.

• Tallahassee's average last frost usually falls in early-to-mid March, and north Florida sees more late-frost risk than the rest of the state, so keep an eye on the forecast if you just planted or pruned hard.
• Water a young or newly planted hazelnut regularly through spring while its roots are still establishing.
• This is a good time to cut back extra root suckers around the base if you want to keep the shrub's footprint under control.
• No spraying needed. This plant does not have significant pest problems reported in Florida landscapes.

Summer

Summer in Tallahassee is hot, humid, and usually wet, so an established hazelnut mostly takes care of itself.

• Once established, this shrub handles Tallahassee's summer heat and regular rainfall well and usually does not need extra watering except during a longer dry stretch.
• If it is still young, in its first year or two, check the soil during any multi-week dry spell and water at the base if it feels dry a few inches down.
• This shrub can technically be pruned any time of year, but summer heat is harder on it, so save any major cuts for a cooler month if you can.
• No significant summer pest or disease issues are typically reported on it in Florida.