SMALL CANOPY TREE; TOUGH NATIVE; GOOD FOR MOST ANY AREA; FALL COLOR; A GREAT NATIVE TREE FOR URBAN AREAS

Species: Carpinus caroliniana

Source: Hale & Hines Nursery - McMinnville, TN

Plant Size, Type & Delivery Height: 1.5” diameter trunk ; Greater than 6 Feet Tall; Container Grown

Mature Height: 20-30 feet

Mature Spread: 10-15 feet

Growth Rate: Slow

Sunlight: Full Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade

Drought & Heat Tolerant: High Drought Tolerance; High Water Tolerance

Description:  A hard to find commercially grown native, the American Hornbeam is also called the Musclewood or Ironwood because of its wide-spreading muscular looking branches. Its bluish-gray bark is exceptionally hard and takes on a polished appearance, much like a horn, and was used by early settlers to make bowls and handles. Hornbeams are plentiful along river beds in the Ozarks and have become popular for personal landscapes because of their distinctive winged nutlets of flowers - both male and female hanging catkins - that bloom in Spring. Summer’s oval, dark green leaves turn red, yellow and orange in the Fall. But it is those sprawling branches that gives the Hornbeam its character. Hornbeams attract birds and have an attractive shape, making it a good understory tree for shady sites. This tree is especially important to bring into urban yards because of the ecological benefits this native tree provides to the various critters in the area.

Growing Considerations:    A low maintenance tree that can grow well in wet or dry soils. The Hornbeam has no serious insect or disease issues. Grow in shady spots If grown in full sun conditions, it will produce a dense green ball of canopy. If grown in full shade conditions it will grow long wandering and interesting looking branches. We recommend planting this tree in full shade conditions because of this.