American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
Identifying Features
Plant Family: Betulaceae
Native Range: Eastern North America
Leaf: deciduous, alternate, doubly and finely toothed, parallel leaf veins
Twig and Bud: twigs thin, reddish-brown or brown, buds reddish-brown, may have hairs on scale tips, buds point away from stem
Flower, Fruit and Seed: fruit hangs in clusters of papery, three-lobed bracts with attached nutlet
Bark: sinewy light-gray to blue-gray bark
Shape and Mature Height: may be a single-trunked tree or multi-stemmed shrub, 20-35 feet tall
Garden Value and Considerations
American hornbeam is a small, slow-growing, understory tree. They grow in rich, moist soil, particularly in swamps and along stream banks where they help to stabilize soil.
Notes
The bark of this tree is similar to that of beech trees, but with the look of a flexed muscle, earning it the alternate common names Musclewood and Blue Beech. Ironwood is another fitting name because the wood of this tree is extremely hard. It was used by early Americans to make tool handles and ox yokes, but is rarely used commercially today because the trees are so small.
American hornbeam seeds are eaten by songbirds, grouse, pheasants, quail, turkeys and squirrels. American hornbeams are frequently used by beavers because they share the same habitats. The trees serve as a host plant to more than 70 moth and butterfly caterpillars including cecropia, luna, io and polyphemus moths.
