Beaked Filbert
Corylus cornuta
Last reviewed: August 2026
Corylus cornuta (Beaked Filbert) is a native North American shrub that blooms in March and April across 34 states from coast to coast. This deciduous hazelnut relative attracts bees and beetles while tolerating various light and moisture conditions.
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 Filbert bloom?
- Corylus cornuta blooms in March and April, producing small flowers before the leaves emerge.
- What pollinators visit Beaked Filbert?
- Beaked Filbert attracts bees and beetles, which help pollinate its early spring flowers.
- Where is Corylus cornuta native?
- Beaked Filbert is native to 34 U.S. states, ranging from Maine to California and from Washington to Georgia, making it one of the most widely distributed native hazelnuts.
- What growing conditions does Beaked Filbert prefer?
- This adaptable shrub tolerates full sun to partial shade and grows in various moisture levels from dry to moist soils.
- 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.
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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