Beaked Filbert
Corylus cornuta
Last reviewed: September 2026
Corylus cornuta, the beaked hazelnut, is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that flowers in March and April, growing well in part sun with medium moisture along woodland edges and thickets.
Toxicity unknown
Beaked Filbert (Corylus cornuta) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Beaked Filbert as toxic to livestock.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
36"–120" H × 36"–120" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
AL, CA, CO, CT and 29 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Beaked filbert is a native shrub that produces edible hazelnuts and attractive catkins in early spring. It forms a rounded, multi-stemmed bush with heart-shaped leaves that turn yellow in fall. This hardy shrub is deer resistant and adapts well to various soil conditions.
Growing Beaked Filbert
Grow Beaked Filbert in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 36 to 120 inches tall and spread 36 to 120 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Beaked Filbert is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, foundation.
- Can spread by suckers if not managed
- Large mature size may overwhelm smaller spaces
Wildlife value
Early spring catkins provide crucial pollen for bees and beetles when few other flowers are available. The nuts feed squirrels, chipmunks, and birds including woodpeckers and nuthatches.
Common questions
- When does beaked hazelnut bloom?
- Corylus cornuta produces slender yellow-green male catkins and tiny red female flowers in March and April, opening before the leaves emerge.
- What pollinates beaked hazelnut?
- Beaked hazelnut is mainly wind pollinated, though bees and beetles visit the catkins to feed on pollen.
- How much sun and water does beaked hazelnut need?
- This shrub grows best in part sun with medium soil moisture, but it tolerates conditions ranging from full sun to part shade and from medium to somewhat dry soils once established.
- What is the growth habit of beaked hazelnut?
- It grows as a multi-stemmed shrub that often suckers to form dense thickets along forest edges, fence rows, and open woodland understories.
- Is Beaked Filbert toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Beaked Filbert as toxic to livestock.
- Is Beaked Filbert HOA-friendly?
- Beaked Filbert is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Beaked Filbert? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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