American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

American Hornbeam is a slow-growing, small to medium-sized understory tree with an attractive globular form. It can be found naturally in areas with moist soil including streambanks, riverbanks, and maritime forests. The serrated, elliptical leaves range in color from pale bronze green in the spring, deep green when mature, to shades of yellow, orange, and red in fall. This small tree is perfect for a pollinator or native garden. It produces a small, ribbed nutlet that is a source of food for birds.

The name Hornbeam has reference to the extreme hardness of the wood, “horn” for toughness, and "beam" an old word for tree. The extremely hard wood was once used by early Americans to make bowls, tool handles, and ox yokes.

Moderately resistant to deer damage.

Fall Color & Nuts; Attracts: 🐝 🐦
Light: part to full shade
Soil: medium to wet
Mature Height: 20' - 35'