The American Hornbeam (Carpinus Caroliniana) is a small to medium sized deciuduous tree. It is a slow grower witha primarily global shape when mature. It is native to Eastern North American but can be planted anywhere within Zones 3-9. It is easily grown in moist soil in partial to full sun. At maturity it ranges in heights from 20-35 feet tall. It is quite resistant to pollution, pests and disease which makes for an ideal street tree.
Image Citation: T. Davis Snydor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
The Hornbeam is an attractively shaped, low-maintenance under story tree that is ideal for partially/shady sites. May be grown in landscapes or naturalized in woodland areas. The Hornbeam has leaves that are serrated and oval in shape, they are deep green in color during the growing season and change to yellow, orange and red in the fall. The flowers are small white and not very significant in appearance. The smooth, gray trunk and larger branches of a mature trees exhibit a distinctive muscle like fluting that has given rise to another common name of muscle wood for this tree.
Image Citation: T. Davis Snydor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
The wood of the Hornbeam was used by early American in bowl and tool making and can be polished to a horn like sheen. This wood is not commonly used as the small size of the trees does not produce enough quanitity to make it worth processing.
Readily available at most nurseries in zones 3-9, the Hornbeam makes for a lovely addition to any landscape.
The European Hornbeam is equally disease resistant but grows in more of a pyramidal shape whan mature. It is larger then the American Hornbeam overall with leaves that are shiny in appearance.
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