McDonald Filbert Hazelnut is an upright, open-form tree that reaches about 10 feet tall and thrives in zones 5 through 9. This Oregon State University selection stands out for its exceptional nut meat-to-shell ratio and heavy, reliable crops of delicious kernels. It blooms longer than nearly any other hazelnut variety and ripens early in the season, making it a valuable addition to maritime climates and regions with moderate moisture. Its frost-hardy nature and proven blight resistance make it both a productive and resilient choice for northern gardeners.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
120in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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McDonald produces kernels with an unusually high meat-to-shell ratio, meaning more of what you crack open is actually edible. Developed at Oregon State University, this variety is notably resistant to blight, a disease that can devastate hazelnut orchards. It has an exceptionally long bloom window stretching from August into September, which not only extends the pollination window but also sets it apart from every other filbert variety on the market.
McDonald hazelnuts are primarily grown for the kernel itself, which can be eaten fresh or roasted, used in baking and confectionery, or ground into hazelnut butter and spreads. The exceptional meat-to-shell ratio makes this variety particularly valuable for commercial processing and home use, where maximizing usable product from each nut justifies the effort of cracking and shelling.
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Hazelnut seeds germinate best with a cold stratification period. Sow seeds outdoors in fall or indoors in a stratification mix kept at 35 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for several weeks before moving to warmer conditions to break dormancy.
Hazelnuts ripen in early fall. Nuts are ready to harvest when the husks begin to split and turn brown, and the kernels inside have darkened. Simply collect fallen nuts from the ground and allow them to dry thoroughly indoors in a well-ventilated space for several weeks before cracking and storing. McDonald's early ripening window means you'll be harvesting sooner than many other varieties.
Maintain McDonald in an upright, open-form structure by removing crossing or crowded branches and thinning the interior to admit light and air. Prune in late winter before the tree breaks dormancy. The naturally open growth habit makes this easier than dense filbert varieties, and keeping good air circulation helps prevent fungal issues while making harvest and pollinator access easier.
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“McDonald emerged from Oregon State University's hazelnut breeding program as a highly blight-resistant selection. Oregon's Willamette Valley has long been the epicenter of American hazelnut cultivation, and this variety represents decades of work to develop filberts that can withstand the diseases and challenges of Pacific Northwest growing. Its development reflects the university's commitment to creating disease-resistant cultivars that preserve and strengthen hazelnut production in a region where the crop has deep agricultural roots.”