American Hornbeam

American Hornbeam, Carolina Hornbeam

Carpinus caroliniana

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

▲ ▼ Mature trees

▲ catkin flowers in spring

▲ ▼ leaves and bracted fruiting structures

▲ smooth, dark gray to blue-gray bark

Location near campus: in Japanese Stroll Garden at the Botanical Center

Carpinus caroliniana: American Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Musclewood, Ironwood

• leaves and stems similar to European hornbeam
• bark blue-gray and smooth with sinewy ridges; very hard wood (hence, ironwood name)
• grows 20-30' tall and as wide with open, rounded to flattened crown - main visual difference from European Hornbeam
• fruit are drooping clusters of light green papery-like capsules with single nutlet inside each capsule - attractive
• prefers deep shade and moist, fertile, high organic matter soil-- often found along rivers and streams in native habitat and can tolerate flooding
• medium to slow growth rate
• native to Missouri