American Hazelnut/Filbert vs Sweet Gale

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.

American Hazelnut is a cold hardy, disease resistant, and long-lived nut tree. It is a great choice for a shrub border for wide, open spaces where it will be allowed to spread. Typically used in naturalization projects for its spreading nature, American Hazelnut is ideal for our zone 4 customers.

If you're a zone 3 prairie customer, don't worry! American Hazelnut can still thrive but needs additional care and protection from our harsh prairie climate.

The edible nuts mature from September to October and are usually roasted or eaten fresh. Make sure you take time to notice American Hazelnut's variable and beautiful fall color that ranges from orange, rose, purplish-red, yellow, and green.

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

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