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NEWS RELEASE
By: Tim Baker
Northwest Region Horticulture Specialist
University of
Missouri Extension
102 Main, Suite 1
Gallatin, MO 64640
660-663-3232
BakerT@missouri.edu
Release Date: November 6, 2008
Title: “Filbert or Hazelnut?"
With a new crop of fresh nuts in the stores, it’s no wonder that these healthful, chewy morsels become a popular snack item around the holiday season. Pecans, walnuts and chestnuts all grow in various parts of the US, and are widely available. Another one is the filbert, which is also known as the hazelnut.
There are several species of filbert which grow in the US, and two are most common. The American filbert is found from Oklahoma to Maine, and is native to Missouri. The European filbert, which is the one most commonly seen in the stores, is mainly grown in Oregon and Washington.
The American filbert is a large multi-stemmed bush, which grows from 10 to 15 feet in height. It is most commonly found on woodland borders. The nuts produced are often smaller than the European filbert, and thus it is more commonly grown for ornamental purposes than for nut production. Some cultivars do produce larger nuts. The flavor is similar to the European version.
The European filbert is not as hardy as the American filbert, and thus it does not do well in Missouri. The male flowers are easily killed by cold winter temperatures, and those that survive are subject to killing spring frosts. Its form is more like a small tree.
Both species are relatives of birch and are included in the same plant family. They produce both male and female flowers on the same plant. The male flowers produce long catkins and appear early in the spring. The female flowers are tiny, and have a red color. Usually the male and female flowers do not develop at the same time on the same plant, so cross pollination between different plants is important.
If you would like to grow filberts, there are two American varieties which have been selected for cold hardiness. The cultivar, ‘Rush’, produces a fair crop of smaller nuts. The other cultivar, ‘Winkler’, produces somewhat larger nuts, but grows only into a small bush. There are some hybrids between American and European filberts as well. If you want to try a filbert for ornamental purposes, there is a variety known as ‘Harry Lauder’s Walkingstick’, which grows in a contorted form with picturesque, twisted branches.
Filberts do need a well-drained soil. Try to avoid known frost pockets. Sloping hillsides work well. They do well in full sun, but will tolerate light shade. If you want to produce nuts, it’s best to have at least two varieties for cross-pollination. It takes about three years until the plants start producing nuts.
University Extension programs are open to all
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