Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta var. californica)
Corylus cornuta, or beaked hazelnut, is a multi-stemmed, suckering understory deciduous shrub or small tree. Grows 5-12 feet tall. It has doubly-toothed, hairy leaves and is easily identified by its 1/2 inch edible nuts, which are enclosed in a husk that forms a prominent "beak".
It produces yellow, drooping male catkins in late winter or early spring, followed by small female flowers and the distinctive beaked fruit in the fall. Beaked hazelnut forms thickets thru root suckers and thrives in forests, and woodland borders with moist to well-drained soil and part to full shade . It's attractive foliage turn shades of yellow in the Fall.
Beaked hazelnut provides food (nuts and buds) and cover for various wildlife, including squirrels, jays, and deer, and is a host plant for some butterflies and moths. Nuts are edible for humans when roasted, though they are often left to attract wildlife. It is native across much of North America, from British Columbia to California, Quebec and south to Illinois and Georgia. Best grown in USDA zones 4-8.
Not as productive as the European hazelnut, but a great addition to your Permaculture garden or Food Forest. If growing for nut production, you may have to give protection from wildlife.