Meet the Partners: Arbor Day Foundation

Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) began its Hazelnut Research Project in 1996 with plantings of hybrid hazelnuts at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebr. By 2000 the project had evolved to include charter members across the nation conducting research on hazelnuts in their own backyards, and has reached nearly 100,000 active members.

This spring, about 40,000 hybrid hazelnut plants (shown above) were grown in ADF's greenhouse—the largest crop their facilities have ever handled.

A hybrid hazelnut sprouting in the greenhouse.

Among the key findings from ADF research are: best practices and methods for growing hazelnuts from seeds; hybrid hazelnuts can thrive in Nebraska as a dryland crop; and Arbor Day Farm hybrids grow best in zones 4-8.

Greenhouse Manager Adam Howard checks the root
system and structure on a hybrid hazelnut plant.

Hazelnut research fields surround Arbor
Day Foundation's beautiful Lied Lodge
in Nebraska City.