How to grow Hazelnut
Updated October 2026
Hazelnuts, also called filberts, are hardy shrubs or small trees that need little care once established. The two keys are planting at least two compatible plants so they cross-pollinate, and, east of the Rockies, choosing types that resist eastern filbert blight.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Hazelnuts in the US
Where to plant
Hazelnuts grow in many soils as long as they drain well, and do best in moist, loamy ground. They flower very early, in late winter, so a site out of frost pockets gives more reliable crops. European hazelnuts flower earliest and are most likely to lose their catkins and flowers to a cold snap.
Do not plant them in lawn. Turf competes for water and food; if you must, clear the grass 2 to 3 feet from the trunk and mulch instead.
- The Pacific Northwest: the center of US hazelnut growing. Plant blight-resistant European varieties in compatible pairs, in late winter or fall.
- The Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest: eastern filbert blight is widespread, so choose American, hybrid or blight-resistant varieties, and plant two compatible ones.
- The Northern Plains and Mountain West: grow hardy American, beaked or hybrid hazelnuts, which take USDA zone 3 cold. Plant in spring.
- The Mid-South and Southern Plains: American hazelnut is native, and hybrids crop better than European types, which struggle with heat and blight.
- Northern California: better in the cooler north coast and foothills than on the hot valley floor.
- Florida, the Gulf South, Texas, the desert, Southern California and Hawaii do not have enough winter chill for hazelnuts to crop.
Choosing a variety
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| American hazelnut (Corylus americana) | Native, very hardy (zone 3), small sweet nuts about 1/2 inch across; buy 2 or 3 seed-grown plants for pollination |
| Hybrid hazelnuts | Crosses of American and European types bred for hardiness and blight resistance; seed-grown hybrids pollinate each other |
| Blight-resistant European types | Oregon State University releases such as 'Jefferson', 'Yamhill', 'Santiam', 'Theta' and 'Eta' have large nuts and resist eastern filbert blight. Each needs a compatible pollinizer, for example 'Jefferson' with 'Eta' or 'Theta' |
| Older European types | 'Barcelona' and 'Ennis' are heavy croppers but very susceptible to eastern filbert blight |
Rutgers University has also released blight-resistant hybrids for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Check with your nursery which varieties pollinate each other, as not every pair is compatible.
How to plant
- Plant bare-root or container plants while dormant. Keep bare-root plants cool and their roots moist until planting.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the roots and just deep enough to reach the root collar. Mix some compost into the backfill, about 1 part to 3 parts soil.
- Space plants 15 to 20 feet apart, and plant at least two compatible varieties, or 2 or 3 seed-grown American or hybrid plants, near each other.
- Water in well and mulch 2 to 3 inches deep over the root zone, keeping it off the stems to discourage rodents.
Watering and feeding
Water new plants deeply every so often for their first two years, letting the soil dry a little in between rather than watering daily. Once established, in a hot, dry climate like Utah's, a deep watering once or twice a month in summer is usually enough on clay or loam, and two or three times a month on sandy soil.
Feed only in spring as growth starts, and only if a soil test or poor growth shows it is needed.
Pruning and care through the year
- Grown as a shrub, hazelnuts need little pruning. Remove about 15 to 20% of the oldest stems near the base each year to keep the bush productive.
- To grow European types as a small tree, train three to five main branches and remove suckers from the base.
- Keep the area weed free, especially while plants are young.
- East of the Rockies, check stems each winter for blight cankers and prune them out well below the canker.
Harvesting
Nuts ripen in early fall, mostly in September and October. Gather them as the husks brown and the nuts begin to drop, before squirrels and birds take them. Dry the nuts in a warm, airy place before storing them.
Companion planting
Hazelnuts work well as a hedge or screen and give wildlife cover. Keep lawn away from their roots.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to hazelnut.
- Lawn and weeds Turf competes for water and nutrients and can greatly slow the growth of young trees and shrubs.
Pests and diseases
Eastern filbert blight is the main hazelnut disease east of the Rockies and is spreading in the Pacific Northwest. Squirrels and birds are the main harvest thieves.
Pests to watch for
- Birds Squirrels, jays and other birds take nuts from the bush and the ground as they ripen; harvest promptly.
- Nut weevil
Diseases to watch for
- Eastern filbert blight Rows of small black bumps on cankers along branches, with dead leaves hanging on dying limbs in summer. Prune out cankers in winter and plant resistant varieties.
Common questions
Do I need two hazelnut trees?
Yes. Hazelnuts are wind pollinated and crop best when pollen comes from a different, compatible variety of the same species. For American or hybrid seedlings, plant 2 or 3 plants; for named European varieties, plant a listed pollinizer.
What is eastern filbert blight?
A fungal disease that forms cankers on hazelnut branches and kills them over a few years. It is native to the eastern US, where it attacks European hazelnuts, and it has spread into Oregon and Washington. Resistant varieties and pruning out cankers are the main controls.
Can I grow hazelnuts in the South?
In the Mid-South and Southern Plains, native American hazelnut and hybrids can crop. Florida, the Gulf Coast and similar warm areas do not get enough winter chill.
How big do hazelnut bushes get?
American and hybrid hazelnuts grown as shrubs reach about 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Space them 15 to 20 feet apart.
How do I prune a hazelnut bush?
Each year, cut out about 15 to 20% of the oldest stems near the ground. This keeps the shrub young and productive and makes the nuts easier to gather.
Sources we checked: Utah State University Extension: Hazelnuts in the Home Orchard; Oregon State University Botany and Plant Pathology: Managing Eastern Filbert Blight.
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