American Hornbeam, Carolina Hornbeam

Carpinus caroliniana

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

éê Mature trees

é catkin flowers in spring

éê leaves and bracted fruiting structures

é 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