Corylus cornuta (Fr: noisetier à long bec | En: beaked hazelnut)

Beaked hazelnut, is one of two native hazelnut bushes in the region. It is an excellent edible shrub that produces tasty, but small, hazelnuts. However, these are well loved by wildlife and bushes I encounter are usually stripped of all their nuts within a couple weeks of ripening. Thus, beaked hazelnut provides important habitat and food for wildlife, including birds, squirrels, and other small mammals. It is also a host plant for the caterpillars of several species of moths, which in turn provide food for other wildlife. 

Habitat: Beaked hazelnut is native to North America and can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, thickets, and along riverbanks.

Height and Spread: 2-4 meters

Sun requirements: Beaked hazelnut can tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun to partial shade.

Moisture requirements: Beaked hazelnut prefers moist  soil conditions but can tolerate periods of drought once established.

Soil requirements: Beaked hazelnut is adaptable to a range of soil types, from well-drained to poorly drained soils. It can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils and can even grow in soils that are somewhat alkaline.