Hazelnut is also known as cobnut or filbert nut. From what I have learned some consider all three names to be the same plant while others claim there is a difference. There is a history of what they are called due to the language and culture the word for the plant comes from. Filbert is used by the French, Cobnut by the British and Hazelnut comes from the Anglo-Saxons.
All of these types are in the genus Corylus. There are various species such as Corylus Avellana (native to Europe and western Asia) and Corylus Americana (American Hazelnut). There are slight differences in leaf shape, the husk that cover the nut and the shape of the nut. Many varieties have been created through breading and selection for commercial production.
The American Hazelnut is native and grows in the Eastern and Midwest United States and up into southern Canada. The American Hazelnut grows well in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Hazelnuts contain numerous essential nutrients. Here is the Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazelnut
Hazelnuts are very tasty and are eaten by many wild animals here in the United States. The wildlife that eats hazelnuts are deer, squirrels, pheasants, grouse and turkey. I have not been able to harvest any hazelnuts from my backyard orchard. The hazels have produced some nuts the last three years but the squirrels got them first! I will need to fence my hazelnuts in order to get some.
Here is a weblink to the project the Arbor Day Foundation has for improving the breading of the American Hazelnut. https://www.arborday.org/programs/hazelnuts/consortium/locate.cfm
Hazelnuts have interesting blossoms. They have male blossoms and female blossoms. The male blossoms are on very long buds that form in the late fall and remain on the plan throughout winter. These buds / blossoms are known as catkins. These male blossoms open on the catkins and their pollen is spread by the wind. The plant will also have female blossoms that form from buds on axillary branches and open in the spring. The plants are not very self-fertile so plant more than one.
I purchased my Hazelnut seedlings from Willis Orchard.
American Filbert Tree (American Hazelnut)
https://www.willisorchards.com/product/american-filbert-tree#.XFb-tSfQjIU
Beaked Hazelnut https://www.willisorchards.com/product/beaked-hazelnut#.XFb-YSfQjIU
Here is a link to a growing guide. https://www.growveg.com/guides/a-guide-to-growing-your-own-hazelnuts/
Here is a link to a Pruning Guide. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/crop-production/nuts/basic-guide-pruning-hazelnut-trees
Below are photos of Beaked Hazelnut from my backyard orchard.
