The deciduous Beaked Hazelnut, with its multi-stemmed base and loosely spreading branches, tends to grow as a shrub or small tree and is capable of reaching heights up to 12' tall. The Beaked Hazelnut tree is adorned with bright green leaves and smooth light brown bark that is sometimes striped with white. Its small red flowers will bloom in early to mid May. The Beaked Hazelnut produces a smooth round nut enclosed in a very hard shell which is wrapped in a leafy case that protrudes beyond the nut like a beak. The nuts are tasty and were once commonly eaten by humans but now provide cover and food for wildlife such as deer, squirrels, pheasants and grouse. When planting hazelnut trees, keep in mind that the Beaked Hazelnut will tolerate full shade but thrives in full sun. The nuts are a wildlife delicacy that starts falling to the ground in late summer and remain until eaten by the deer and turkeys that love them.