growing hazelnuts in MN - Ask Extension
hi! i have a question about hazelnut trees, because i'm wanting to plant one in my yard, but i'm getting mixed reviews of how they grow online... my m...
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growing hazelnuts in MN #891787
Asked January 21, 2025, 3:35 PM EST
hi! i have a question about hazelnut trees, because i'm wanting to plant one in my yard, but i'm getting mixed reviews of how they grow online... my main questions are:
1. how big do they get? (some sources tell me like 30ft tall with a wide spread that i do not have room for in my urban garden)
2. can i have just one or do i need two trees to get fruit?
3. are there any other plants that work well or best near/around them
Unrelated to hazelnuts, do you know of anywhere in MN that sells "fruit salad" trees (i'm specifically looking for something with plum/peach/cherry on a root stock that will survive MN temperatures)
Thank you so much for your help!
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
Here are two strong citations on hazelnuts.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2020/sep-oct/hazelnut.html
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/american-hazelnut
In addition, I have heard people call the Ohio Buckeye a hazelnut. Its not. https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/broad-leaf-trees/ohio-buckeye-aesculus-glabra
A couple thoughts. Choose a tree that will comfortable fit the space. I will need a space of at least 50% in radius than its mature width. Imagine the sun. The sun is in the south--the shadow will be much bigger on the north side of the tree. Think about its full height in relation to wires before you plant.
You will not find any such fruit combinations on one root stock. Grafting can be done on a part of a root that grows out of the ground. This is an advance project.
https://www.backwoodshome.com/graft-your-own-designer-fruit-trees/#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20graft%20apple%20(malus,cherries%2C%20and%20peaches%20are%20interchangeable.
Take a class: https://w-e-i.org/event/grafting1/
https://sfa-mn.org/events/bench-grafting-and-scionwood-swap/
These courses are NOT current.
Here are two strong citations on hazelnuts.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2020/sep-oct/hazelnut.html
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/american-hazelnut
In addition, I have heard people call the Ohio Buckeye a hazelnut. Its not. https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/broad-leaf-trees/ohio-buckeye-aesculus-glabra
A couple thoughts. Choose a tree that will comfortable fit the space. I will need a space of at least 50% in radius than its mature width. Imagine the sun. The sun is in the south--the shadow will be much bigger on the north side of the tree. Think about its full height in relation to wires before you plant.
You will not find any such fruit combinations on one root stock. Grafting can be done on a part of a root that grows out of the ground. This is an advance project.
https://www.backwoodshome.com/graft-your-own-designer-fruit-trees/#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20graft%20apple%20(malus,cherries%2C%20and%20peaches%20are%20interchangeable.
Take a class: https://w-e-i.org/event/grafting1/
https://sfa-mn.org/events/bench-grafting-and-scionwood-swap/
These courses are NOT current.
