Carpinus caroliniana, commonly known as American hornbeam, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It's also known by other names like blue beech, ironwood, or musclewood. This understory tree is characterized by its smooth, gray, fluted bark, often described as resembling a flexed arm. It typically grows 20-30 feet tall and wide, with a rounded, spreading crown.
Musclewood
$6.00Price
- Bark: The bark is smooth, bluish-gray, and has a distinctive fluted or ridged appearance.
- Leaves: The leaves are simple, alternate, and oval-shaped with serrated edges. They are dark green during the growing season and turn yellow, orange, and red in the fall.
- Flowers: The tree produces green catkins in the spring.
- Fruit: The fruit is a small, ribbed nutlet attached to a three-lobed leafy bract.
- Growth Habit: It's a slow-growing tree, often multi-stemmed, and can tolerate both sun and shade.
- Habitat: American hornbeam is commonly found in moist woods, along streams, and in swamps.