Arkansas Tree Database

American Hornbeam, Musclewood, Ironwood

American Hornbeam, Musclewood, Ironwood

Scientific name:

Carpinus Caroliniana

Size:

25'-50' tall

Leaves:

alternate, simple, long oval, sharply and doubly toothed

Flowers:

catkins, not showy; April-May

Fruit:

winged nutlet in cone-like cluster; September-October

Fall Interest:

yellow, orange, red; deciduous

Culture:

partial shade to full shade; moist, rich soil

Disease/Insect:

Use:

understory lawn tree, woodland garden, ornamental; important food source for ruffled grouse and other birds

Cultivars:

Notes:

smooth thin blue-gray bark; trunk and branches irregular in cross-section with muscle-like fluting, hence the name musclewood; native to Arkansas

Resources:

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/Carpinus-caroliniana-Musclewood-Hornbeam-Blue-Beech-11-16-2018.aspx

Click thumbnail to enlarge images

American hornbeam bark on trunk American hornbeam bark on trunk American hornbeam flowers American hornbeam leaves, fall American hornbeam leaves, showing toothed margins and alternate arrangement American hornbeam fruit American hornbeam fruit American hornbeam fruit American hornbeam fruit American hornbeam twig with buds