American Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Ironwood, American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana

Family: Betulaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Orange, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring.Form: Oval.

Carpinus caroliniana is a deciduous Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in November. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 12

Where it is found

Usually found as an understorey tree in rich woods and the borders of streams and swamps in deep rich moist soils.

Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Florida and Texas.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Seed - cooked. An emergency food, used when all else fails.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

American hornbeam was employed medicinally by some native North American Indian tribes, though it is not used in modern herbalism. The inner bark is astringent. An infusion has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea and difficult urination with discharge.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Other

Rating:

Wood - heavy, close grained, very hard, strong, but not very durable in the soil. It weighs 45lb per cubic foot. Too small to be exploited commercially, this high quality wood is often used locally for flooring, cogs, tool handles, golf clubs etc. It is especially suitable for making levers and is also a good fuel.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Espalier: A tree or other plant that is trained to grow flat against a support (such as a trellis or wall).

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Espalier, Pest tolerant, Hedge, Standard, Superior hedge, Specimen, Street tree, Woodland garden. Thrives in any good loam, including chalk, it does not demand much light. Prefers a deep open loam. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A slow-growing and short-lived tree in the wild, it is slower growing than C. betulinus in cultivation. Seed production is cyclic, a year of heavy yields being followed by 2 - 4 years of low yields. Special Features: North American native, Attracts butterflies, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown in an outdoors seedbed as soon as it is ripe. Germination is usually good, though it may take 18 months. If collected whilst still 'green' (after the seed is ripe but before it has dried fully on the plant) and sown immediately it should germinate in the following spring. Grow the plants on for two years in the seedbed and then plant them out into their permanent positions in the winter. The average seed viability is around 65%. Pre-treat stored seed with 4 weeks warm and 12 weeks cold stratification and sow in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame until they are at least 15cm tall before planting them into their permanent positions.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 3-9

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

C. americana.