Beaked Hazelnut vs Sweet Gale

Beaked Hazelnut is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub native to North America.

It features smooth, grey bark and edible nuts. Beaked Hazelnut prefers a rich sandy-clay loam but will grow on poorer sites, and can be used as an understory shrub.

Note: You want more than one hazelnut to improve yields.

Sweet Gale is a native, nitrogen-fixing shrub known for its aromatic foliage. Tiny glands on the leaves release a balmy, bay leaf-like scent with floral and citrus notes. In spring, the yellowish male catkins provide one of the earliest sources of pollen for bees and other insects. While later in the season, the female catkins produce seeds that are eaten by waterfowl. Sweet Gale is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants.

Sweet Gale thrives in wet, acidic soils and is commonly found along wetlands and lakeshores. It can help stabilize shorelines, while its dense growth provides valuable cover for wildlife. It is well-suited for naturalization, wetland restoration, and erosion control projects.

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