Carpinus caroliniana
American Hornbeam

 Plant Type:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flowers:
Green (Not ornamentally important)
 Foliage:
Green (Dark green in summer); Multi-Colored (Variable fall foliage; from orange-red to yellow)
 Fruit:
Brown (Dry fruits (nutlets partly enclosed by bracts) resemble "hops" hanging in pendulous clusters that last into fall)
 Ultimate Height:
20-30 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
20-30 feet
 Soil:
Tolerant of different soil types
 Range:
Eastern North America
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Alternate, simple, serrated 2.5-5" long leaves. Compared to Carpinus betulus, C. caroliniana buds are straight instead of bending around stem, leaves are thinner, less sharply serrated, and veins are less impressed above. Downy, imbricate buds with 4-ranked scales. Terminal bud absent. Smooth, gray, "sinewy" bark

Additional Information

A clean, trouble-free small tree, useful in intensive situations such as patios and malls, and equally interesting in naturalized plantings. Useful as a large hedge if coppiced when young. Performs well in heavy shade and tolerates periodic flooding. Difficult to transplant. Move balled-and-burlapped for best results. Sometimes called Blue Beech and Ironwood (although these are best not used).

When Carpinus caroliniana has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Fruiting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

86 Carpinus caroliniana found

Building Map...

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= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
1ORIG_9896*AARMS
22010_04716*AFST
3ORIG_9540*ALWSN
4ORIG_9539*ALWSN
5ORIG_9537*ALWSN
6ORIG_9894*AARMS
7ORIG_9904*AARMS
82015_00318*AHGRH
9ORIG_3085*ASTEW
102010_04409*AFST
112010_05380*AFST
122010_05379*AFST
132010_04407*AFST
14ORIG_9621*AHILL
152018_00988*AOWEN
162010_05381*AFST
17ORIG_9620*AHILL
18ORIG_9619*AHILL
19ORIG_1754*AJNSN
202009_14610*APFEN
21ORIG_2170*AEE
22ORIG_2169*AEE
232010_04408*AFST
242018_00596*APRCE
252018_00987*AOWEN
262018_00929*AFST
272018_00930*AFST
282010_04721*AFST
29ORIG_1758*AJNSN
302010_04406*AFST
312010_04963*AFST
32ORIG_9542*ALWSN
33ORIG_9543*ALWSN
342010_05385*AFST
352012_00198*APRCE
362009_13785*AHORTPARK
37ORIG_9208*AHILL
382013_00561*AHORTPARK
39ORIG_9541*ALWSN
40ORIG_1756*AJNSN
41ORIG_2171*AEE
422013_00562*AHORTPARK
43ORIG_1757*AJNSN
442015_00319*AHGRH
45ORIG_1755*AJNSN
462009_14615*APFEN
472010_04720*AFST
482010_04719*AFST
49ORIG_9207*AHILL
502009_04523*ASTEW
512010_12308*APVA
52ORIG_9895*AARMS
532010_04964*AFST
542010_04962*AFST
552018_00928*AFST
56ORIG_9209*AHILL
572021_00041*BCARY
582021_00041*CCARY
592021_00023*AFST
602021_00041*ACARY
612022_00379*ACHAS
622022_00329*ACHAS
632022_00328*ACHAS
642022_00365*ACHAS
652022_00528*AFST
662023_00034*AFARM ANIMAL
672023_00034*BFARM ANIMAL
682023_00034*CBRUN
692023_00141*GSHLY
702023_00141*HHSLY
712023_00336*APICK
722023_00336*BPICK
732023_00336*CPICK
742023_00336*DPICK
752023_00336*EPICK
762023_00368*ADLR
772023_00368*BDLR
782023_00368*CDLR
792023_00368*DDLR
802023_00368*EDLR
812023_00368*FDLR
822023_00368*GBIND
832023_00368*HBIND
842023_00444*ABRWN
852023_00677*AHORTPARK
862024_00008*AHIKS

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