Light Requirements: part shade/full shade
Soil Moisture: medium
Bloom Color: White (female), Green (male)
Height: 20-35 ft.
Root Structure: Taproot with additional fibrous and wide spreading roots
Deer Resistant? Moderately to highly
Black Walnut tolerant? Not sure
Local Ecotype Available? Yes
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
I’m native to NY state and Tompkins County
Another common name of mine is Musclewood because my bark is smooth and looks like muscles.
I have extremely hard wood and was once used to make bowls, tool handles and ox yokes.
Many insects use my leaves as food and to lay eggs on. I'm the preferred host of leafhoppers
My nutlets are eaten by many birds including the Wood Duck, Mallard, Northern Cardinal, Evening Grosbeak, American Goldfinch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey.