Wepster Filbert Hazelnut is a recently developed cultivar from Oregon State University, bred specifically for the chocolate and nut industry. This vigorous tree produces abundantly and ripens earlier than many hazelnut varieties, reaching 10 to 12 feet tall in zones 5 through 9. Named after the pioneering Wepster family of nut tree growers, it combines commercial-grade productivity with reliable home garden performance, thriving in full sun to partial shade with moderate water and neutral soil.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-9
144in H x ?in W
—
Low
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Bred by Oregon State University for both flavor and commercial viability, Wepster delivers early-season harvests from a tree that requires minimal pruning and training. The plant is completely resistant to Eastern Filbert Blight, a disease that has devastated hazelnut orchards across North America, making it a genuinely low-maintenance choice for long-term growing. Its open-shaped canopy stays naturally tidy, and it blooms early to mid-season, meaning you'll have reliable pollinizers available from nearby Filbert varieties.
Filbert nuts are eaten fresh, roasted, or processed into hazelnut butter and chocolate confections. Wepster nuts are particularly valued by the chocolate industry due to their flavor profile and reliability, though home gardeners can harvest and roast them for snacking, baking, or grinding into spreads.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Harvest filbert nuts in late summer to early fall when the outer husk splits open, revealing the hard-shelled nut inside. Fallen nuts on the ground indicate ripeness. Pick nuts from the ground or shake branches gently to release ripe nuts. Allow harvested nuts to dry thoroughly before storing or cracking open.
Wepster's open-shaped, vigorous growth habit requires little training or pruning. The tree naturally maintains good structure and is easily kept at 10 feet tall with minimal intervention. Remove any crossing or damaged branches as needed, but avoid heavy pruning that would reduce nut production.
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“Wepster is a modern cultivar developed by Oregon State University and named to honor the Wepster family, pioneering growers in the hazelnut industry. Rather than an heirloom rescued from obscurity, this is a deliberate breeding achievement designed to meet the needs of both commercial orchardists and home gardeners, addressing the critical problem of Eastern Filbert Blight susceptibility that plagued earlier varieties. Its development reflects decades of hazelnut research aimed at combining disease resistance, productivity, and early ripening in a single tree.”