Botanical Name:

Carpinus caroliniana

Common Name:

American hornbeam, blue beech, ironwood, musclewood

Family Name:

Betulaceae - birch family

General Description:

Carpinus caroliniana is a native large shrub to small tree that is widely distributed throughout eastern United States, south to Florida and Texas, and even into parts of Mexico. In the Chicago area it typically grows as an understory tree in abundantly moist, rich, mesic woodlands. It occasionally grows in slightly drier upland woods where it shares habitat with another native species, Ostrya virginiana, hophornbeam. In the landscape, Carpinus caroliniana is proving to be adaptable to sun, shade and a variety of soil conditions. This plant should be used more in the landscape as its size, attractive fall color and beautiful bark make it an asset to any garden.

Zone:

3-9

Resources Consulted:

“Carpinus caroliniana”. Possibility Place Nursery. 2014. Web. 9 March 2014.

Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champaign: Stipes, 2009. Print.

"The PLANTS Database." USDA, NRCS. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA, 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

Swink, Floyd, and Gerould Wilhelm. Plants of the Chicago Region. Indianapolis: Indiana Academy of Science, 1994. Print.

Creator:

Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, Professor, College of DuPage

Creation Date:

2014

Keywords/Tags:

Betulaceae, Carpinus caroliniana, American hornbeam, blue beech, musclewood, ironwood, tree, deciduous

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