American Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Water Beech, Musclewood, Ironwood
Attractive in all seasons, Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam) is a slow-growing, small to medium-sized deciduous tree of upright-spreading habit with a rounded crown. The branches are covered with ovate, serrated, and prominently veined leaves, 2-5 in. long (5-12 cm). Emerging reddish-purple in spring, the foliage turns dark green as the season progresses before turning shades of yellow to orange-red in the fall. The flowers appear in spring in separate male and female catkins. The female catkins are followed by distinctive clusters of winged nutlets. Hanging at the tip of the branches, they can be seen through late spring to early fall. In winter, the fluted blue-gray bark with long, sinewy ridges makes Carpinus caroliniana a lovely addition to the landscape. Native to eastern North America, American Hornbeam is a wonderful understory tree that is useful as a specimen or in groupings for shady landscapes. It is great for naturalizing along the edges of woodlands and streams or as a street or lawn tree.
Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Betulaceae |
Common names | American Hornbeam, Hornbeam, Ironwood |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
Height |
20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m) |
Spread |
20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
Tolerance | Dry Soil, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Betulaceae |
Common names | American Hornbeam, Hornbeam, Ironwood |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
Height |
20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m) |
Spread |
20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
Tolerance | Dry Soil, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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