American Hornbeam, Musclewood, or Ironwood, is a deciduous tree that may grow 30 to feet tall. The 30–40 species of hornbeam occur across much of the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest number of species in East Asia, particularly China. Description. Other common names: hornbeam, blue beech, ironwood, water beech. The muscle-like Dull bluish green surface, paler underside, and sharp teeth. Prefers moist, organically rich soils. A small to medium multi-stemmed tree forming wide spreading rounded tops. This new clonal selection from the great American tree grower, J. Frank Schmidt & Son, offers a new way to put a reliable, repetitive element into the naturalized garden. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Typically grows 20-35' tall. It has many common names, the most common include: blue beech because of its very smooth gray bark, and musclewood referring to its muscle-like branches which are irregularly fluted. The American Hornbeam is a short, stubby tree that can have one or more trunks, each a foot wide and aesthetically pleasing. American Hornbeam, usually called Ironwood in North Carolina, is a fairly common understory tree found mostly along streambanks. It is native to eastern North America, from Minnesota and southern Ontario east to Maine, and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida. Skylark™ Hornbeam Carpinus x 'Shelby' Introduced by: Heritage Seedlings and Liners, LLC Hybridized by: Dr. Harold Pellett, former professor at UMN, a cross between Carpinus caroliniana x Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ Exposure: Sun | Zones: 5 to 8 Height: 25 - 35' | Width: 10 - 15' Carpinus x ‘Shelby’ Skylark™ resulted from Dr. Pellett’s effort to breed a more cold-hardy fastigiate A subtle beauty often overlooked. Tolerates dry, shady sites. Considerations: Said to be difficult to transplant as it does not tolerate root disturbance. Monoecious (both male and female flowers on the same tree) male catkin is 1-2.5" long, female 3/4 inch long, 3 lobed bracts, 1-1.5" long, middle of lobe the widest. Other names include blue-beech, ironwood, musclewood and water beech. American hornbeam is a small tree of bottomland understories. The bark is bluish-gray, thin, fairly smooth, and heavily fluted. American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), also called blue-beech, ironwood, water-beech, or lechillo (Spanish), is a small slow-growing short-lived tree in the understory of eastern mixed hardwood forests. Simple toothed leaves are dark green and have variable yellow, orange, red or reddish […] Carpinus caroliniana, commonly called American hornbeam, is a slow-growing, deciduous, small to medium-sized understory tree with an attractive globular form. Mature Height: 40 ft. An attractively shaped, low-maintenance understory tree for shady sites. The seed and buds provide food source for songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, wild turkeys, foxes, and squirrels. Introduction: A fine-textured tree that is related to the birches, American hornbeam is the only North American native of the genus Carpinus. Plant Selections introduction, Fire King™ Musclewood lives up to its name with its fast growth, superior hardiness, and excellent structure.Selected by Mike Yanny in 2003, this cultivar is upright in youth becoming rounded with age. Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is an attractive small tree that is common, but not abundant in its natural range. american_hornbeam_carpinus_caroliniana.jpg. Genus Carpinus are deciduous shrubs and trees with attractive foliage and hop-like fruit clusters in late summer and autumn Details C. caroliniana is a small, deciduous tree to around 10m tall with branches that droop at the tips and fluted, grey bark. Carpinus is Latin for “hornbeam;” caroliniana means “of Carolina.” Common Name. hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana. Alternate, simple, 2.5-5" long, 1-2" wide, ovate-oblong, doubly serrate, glabrous, Smooth, tight, thin and bluish-gray stretched over an irregularly ridged trunk. It is quite similar in scale and form to Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’. SPECIES: Carpinus caroliniana IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : American hornbeam is probably either top-killed or killed by most fires. Leaf spots, cankers and twig blight are occasional disease problems. Flowers appear in spring in separate male and female catkins, with the female catkins giving way to distinctive clusters of winged nutlets. This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer but is especially sensitive to drought, heat, and soil compaction. Average Dried Weight: 49 lbs/ft 3 (785 kg/m 3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC):.58, .79. Carpinus caroliniana, the American hornbeam, is a small hardwood tree in the genus Carpinus. Scientific name: Carpinus caroliniana Pronunciation: kar-PYE-nus kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-nuh Common name(s): American hornbeam, blue-beech, ironwood Family: Betulaceae USDA hardiness zones: 3A through 9A (Figure 2) Origin: native to the majority of the eastern United States, southeast Quebec, and southwest Ontario UF/IFAS Invasive Assessment Status: native Uses: sidewalk cutout (tree pit); deck or patio; specimen; street without sidewalk; screen; hedge; tree lawn 3–4 feet wide; tree lawn 4–6 feet wide; tree … Does well in heavy shade and is found as an understory tree in forests. It gets another common name, muscle tree, from the sinewy texture of its gray, fluted, smooth trunk. The small tree produces a small, ribbed nutlet that is carried by a 3-lobed leafy bract. Other Common Name: Blue Beech. Not all of the wild edibles can produce the best-tasting and most plentiful foods, but many can make their small contribution. Scientific Name: Carpinus caroliniana. These plants also provide good cover and shelter for animals. British author Ray Mears must have been thinking of the Hornbeam when he said a forager mustn’t pass up food no matter how meager. Family: Betulaceae (birches) Description: American hornbeam is a tall shrub or small tree, to 35 feet tall, with pendulous branches and a … A lively mix of bright red and orange fall colors and distinctive columnar shape combine to offer a new look for a popular and widely adaptable North American native tree. Habitat: Grows on moist, rocky, wooded slopes. Carpinus caroliniana Figure 1. Growers will appreciate its vigorous yet mannerly growth habit and ease of care in the nursery. A Johnson’s Nursery origination; J.N. It is native to Missouri where it is typically found in rich moist woods, valleys, ravine bottoms and rocky slopes along streams throughout the eastern and Ozark regions of the State (Steyermark). It is native to Missouri where it is typically found in rich moist woods, valleys, ravine bottoms and rocky slopes along streams throughout the eastern and Ozark regions of the state (Steyermark). It is a larval host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Red-spotted Purple butterflies. Difficult to transplant and best moved in spring. NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to American pioneers used it for bowls and dishes, as it is not subject to cracking. It is tolerant of drier sites, some sun and periodic flooding. Commercial use of hornbeam wood is not practicable, however, due to the limited amount of wood that can be harvested per tree.Genus name comes from the classical Latin name.Specific epithet means of North or South Carolina. It also grows in Canada (southwest Quebec and southeast Ontario). N.C. Prefers moist, organically rich soils. Carpinus betulus commonly called European hornbeam is a medium-sized, deciduous tree that grows 40-60’ (less frequently to 80’) tall with a pyramidal to oval-rounded crown. Tree Size: 35-40 ft (10-12 m) tall, 1.5-2 ft (.5-.6 m) trunk diameter. American Hornbeam1 Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2 INTRODUCTION A handsome tree in many locations, the tree slowly reaches a height and spread of 20 to 30 feet (Fig. Native Flame® is a selection of American Hornbeam chosen for dark green summer foliage and a crackling red fall color display. The extremely hard wood of this tree will, as the common name suggests, take a horn-like polish and was once used by early Americans to make bowls, tool handles and ox yokes. Carpinus L. – hornbeam Species: Carpinus caroliniana Walter – American hornbeam Subordinate Taxa. No serious insect or disease problems. form a strategic partnership called N.C. Native shade tree - own root. It is part of the Betulaceae (birch) family and has several nicknames, including blue beech, muscle beech, water beech, muscletree, musclewood, and ironwood. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. American hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana. Hornbeam refers to the dense, horn-like wood, and the use of the wood to make beams and ox-yokes. Ovate, sharply-toothed, dark green leaves (to 5” long) are clean and attractive throughout the growing season with little susceptibility to … It can be found naturally in areas with moist soil including streambanks, riverbanks, and maritime forests. Typically grows 20-35' tall. Select A’ PPAF Description & Overview. Both of the two recognized varieties occur in NC, the northern var. On young specimens, the inner bark is eaten by beavers and rabbits. Difficult to transplant due to deep spreading lateral roots. The leaves are ovoid and the flowers are yellow-green. Commercial use of hornbeam wood is not practicable, however, due to the limited amount of wood per tree. American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) $ 35.00. A Johnson’s Nursery origination; J.N. Like other Hornbeams, Carpinus caroliniana is popular for bonsai due to its small leaves, thick trunk, and dense branching. Can be used as a specimen plant in areas not subject to root disturbance. In early spring, yellow-green, male and fuzzy, yellow-green, female flowers mature. Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Upright’ Description & Overview. The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a deciduous hardwood shade tree that's native to eastern North America. Plant Selections introduction, Firespire® Musclewood is an upright form of Musclewood with outstanding orange-red fall color. The bark is bluish-gray, thin, fairly smooth, and heavily fluted. The American Hornbeam is botanically called Carpinus caroliniana. Carpinus caroliniana, commonly called American hornbeam, is a slow-growing, deciduous, small to medium-sized understory tree with an attractive globular form. Easily grown in average, medium moisture soil in part shade to full shade. American hornbeam is also known as blue-beech, and musclewood. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. hornbeam Betulaceae Carpinus caroliniana Walter symbol: CACA18 Leaf: Alternate, simple, elliptical to ovate, 3 to 5 inches long, pinnately veined, tip acuminate, doubly serrate margin; waxy, smooth green above, paler below. Native Introduced Native and Introduced. Hornbeams are hardwood trees in the family Betulaceae (birch) and the flowering plant genus Carpinus. Easily grown in average, medium moisture soil in part shade to full shade. Carpinus caroliniana ‘J.N. Recommended Uses: Retain if in the landscape. The smooth, gray trunk and larger branches of a mature tree exhibit a distinctive muscle-like fluting that has given rise to another common name of musclewood for this tree. A wildfire severe enough to kill the hardwood component of a white oak (Q. alba) stand in Rhode Island eliminated American hornbeam from the stand. Plant in the spring. The wood has been used for tool handles, mallet heads, levers and other small wooden objects. Carpinus caroliniana 'JFS-KW6' Native Flame® American Hornbeam: Zone: 5: Height: 30' Spread: 20' Shape: Upright oval Foliage: Green Fall Color: Red: This versatile native species is ripe for cultivar development, and Native Flame® leads the pack into bright fall colors. The leaves are alternate with a doubly toothed margin. Scientific Name. The short, often crooked trunk covered with a smooth slate gray bark is characteristically ridged, resembling the muscles of a flexed arm. The smooth, gray trunk and larger branches of a mature tree exhibit a distinctive muscle-like fluting that has given rise to another common name of musclewood for this tree. Fire King™ Musclewood Carpinus caroliniana ‘J.N. Common Name(s): American Hornbeam, Blue Beech. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilo glaucus) has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north. The Plants Database includes the following 2 subspecies of Carpinus caroliniana . Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours), 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a. Zones: 3-9. Young American Hornbeam. Serrated, elliptic-oval, dark green leaves often produce respectable shades of yellow, orange and red in fall. American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is more often cultivated as a tree, also similar to beech in its leaf shape, fruit pattern and cultivation needs. 1). Description. NC Cooperative Extension and NHC Arboretum, older bark is slate gray with muscle appearance, leaves weakly doubly serrate, parallel veins, fruits a nutlet on 3-lobed bract, lobes basal. May be grown in lawns or naturalized in woodland areas. It will grow with an attractive open habit in total shade, but be dense in full sun. Older branches develop a slate gray, smooth, irregularly fluted appearance; overall appearance is similar to a flexed bicep muscle, hence the common name muscle wood. The bark is smooth, gray to bluish-gray, and heavily fluted. Does well in sandy or clay loams with high organic matter, regular moisture and slightly acidic soils. Bloom Description: White (female), Green (male). Latin: Carpinus caroliniana. caroliniana.They are quite similar and many of the trees in the overlap range (such as in Durham County) are intergrades. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Leaf spots, cankers, and twig blight are occasional disease problems of the American hornbeam. AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV. Carpinus caroliniana: Musclewood. virginiana (Marshall) Fernald, and the southern var. Distribution: Eastern North America. It is … The extremely hard wood of this tree will, as the common name suggests, take a horn-like polish and was once used by early Americans to make bowls, tool handles and ox yokes. Commercial use of hornbeam wood is not practicable, however, due to the limited amount of wood per tree. Leaves alternate, simple, ovate-oblong, 6-13 cm long, acuminate, sharply and doubly serrate, dark green in summer, yellowish, orange, to red in fall. American hornbeam is a wonderful addition to a … Use in naturalized areas or along streams or ponds. The nutlet is 1/3 inch long and is attached to a leaf-like 3-lobed green scale that helps it to be carried by the wind. The Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) has two broods from April-October. The Tree is a deciduous tree, it will be up to 12 m (39 ft) high. Carpinus caroliniana ssp. The trunk and branches of this tree have ridges that look like muscles. Deciduous tree, 20-30 ft (6-9 m), often multi-stemmed, wide spreading, at maturity flat or round-topped. The tree likes Sun to shade at the location and the soil should be fresh humus soils. Paul Nelson. The extremely hard wood of this tree will, as the common name suggests, take a horn-like polish and was once used by early Americans to make bowls, tool handles and ox yokes. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for subspecies profiles. Carpinus caroliniana ‘CCSQU’ P.P.#11,280 Palisade® American Hornbeam. American hornbeam is a slow-growing, deciduous, small to medium-sized understory tree with an attractive globular form. Ontario, Canada origin promises good cold hardiness. 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