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:
Click thumbnail to enlarge images
![American hornbeam bark on trunk](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_bark_1.jpg)
![American hornbeam bark on trunk](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_bark_2.jpg)
![American hornbeam flowers](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_flower_1.jpg)
![American hornbeam leaves, fall](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_foliage_1.jpg)
![American hornbeam leaves, showing toothed margins and alternate arrangement](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_foliage_2.jpg)
![American hornbeam fruit](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_fruit_1.jpg)
![American hornbeam fruit](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_fruit_2.jpg)
![American hornbeam fruit](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_fruit_3.jpg)
![American hornbeam fruit](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_seed_1.jpg)
![American hornbeam twig with buds](/static/gallery/img/American_hornbeam_twig_1.jpg)