When to plant hazelnut trees in Wilsonville and Canby, OR

Plant hazelnut trees in Wilsonville and Canby Mar 1 – Apr 26.

Easy Plant bare-root or potted trees

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 15 to 20 feet apart
Planting depth: Same depth as in the nursery
Frost: Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest: First nuts in three to five years

Why these dates

Wilsonville and Canby's typical last spring frost is March 16. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the west-side valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about March 1.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

How to grow hazelnut trees in Wilsonville and Canby

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant hazelnut trees Mar 1 – Apr 26, 15 to 20 feet apart. Same depth as in the nursery.
Plant at least two compatible varieties for pollination. Water through the first two summers, and pull suckers from the base each year if you want a tree rather than a bush.
Harvest: Nuts drop on their own from late August to October. Rake them up every few days, before squirrels and jays do, and dry them for a couple of weeks.

Key numbers

3–5Years to nuts
Two compatible typesPollination
Midwinter, by windBloom time
Eastern filbert blightBiggest risk

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Pollination and variety choice

Hazelnuts bloom in midwinter, long before most plants wake up. The long, dangling catkins are the male flowers, and the female flowers are tiny red tufts on the buds. Pollen moves by wind, not bees, and a tree can't pollinate itself, so you need at least two compatible varieties within about 50 feet.

Jefferson, Yamhill and McDonald resist eastern filbert blight, the disease that wiped out many older Northwest orchards. Theta is often planted as a pollinizer alongside them. Ask the nursery which varieties pair well, since compatibility depends on the specific types.

Eastern filbert blight

This fungus spreads by spores in wet spring weather and causes rows of black, football-shaped bumps along branches. Over a few years it girdles and kills limbs, and eventually whole trees. Older varieties like Barcelona are very susceptible, which is why blight-resistant varieties are the only sensible choice for new plantings.

If you see cankers on an older tree, cut the branch off in dry weather several feet below the visible damage and burn or bag it.

Bush or tree, and harvest

Hazelnuts naturally grow as multi-stemmed bushes. If you want a single-trunk tree that's easier to rake under, pull suckers from the base every year. The Northwest also has a native beaked hazelnut, which grows wild in woods west of the Cascades and makes a good wildlife shrub.

Nuts drop from late August to October. Rake them up every few days before squirrels and jays get them, then spread them in a single layer somewhere dry and airy for a couple of weeks, until the kernels snap cleanly.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Wilsonville and Canby, OR?

Typically March 16. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 7. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Aurora State Airport.

Is it too late to plant hazelnut trees in Wilsonville and Canby?

The spring planting window runs through April 26. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer. Fall planting also works well here.

How long until I can pick hazelnut trees?

First nuts in three to five years. Nuts drop on their own from late August to October. Rake them up every few days, before squirrels and jays do, and dry them for a couple of weeks.

Do I need two hazelnut trees?

Yes. Hazelnuts can't pollinate themselves, so plant at least two compatible varieties, such as Jefferson with Yamhill or Theta. They should be within about 50 feet of each other.

Are filberts and hazelnuts the same thing?

Yes. Filbert is the older name used by many Northwest growers, and hazelnut is the common name elsewhere. They're the same nut.

How do I keep squirrels from taking my hazelnuts?

Pick up fallen nuts every few days during harvest so squirrels and jays don't get to them first. Spreading a tarp under the tree makes gathering faster.

Also plant in Wilsonville and Canby around the same time

Planting dates for hazelnut trees in nearby areas

Portland, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Gresham, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Hillsboro and Beaverton, OR Mar 5 – Apr 30
Oregon City and West Linn, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
St. Helens and Scappoose, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Salem, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26

Full planting calendar for Wilsonville and Canby · Hazelnut trees in every city