American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) is a suckering, native deciduous shrub growing to 9 to 12 feet tall. It is medium to fast-growing plant can increase in height from 1 to 2 feet annually. Spreading in the form of suckers from the roots results in thickets that provide cover for songbirds and small mammals. It has light yellow-brown, male catkins and red, small female flowers in early spring; the flowers mature to 1/2-inch nuts in fall. The nuts are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, chipmunks, black bears, foxes, white-tailed deer, skunks, and squirrels. Hazelnut is host to at least 124 moth and butterfly caterpillars; numerous other insects will eat the foliage.