Tree of the Month: American Hornbeam
The American hornbeam flexes its muscles as an alluring understory tree. This medium-sized species has an interesting form in every season, offering ornamentation in addition to ecosystem services that help manage and enrich the local environment. Here, we’ll go over why this versatile tree is such a fine addition to green spaces in Nashville.
Characteristics of the American Hornbeam
The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) has a distinct look that makes it among the easier trees to identify. It has smooth, bluish-gray bark that fits tightly against its particularly hard wood. The tree can be pruned to have a single, straight trunk, but American hornbeams tend to grow with multiple lead branches from a stout base, giving it a multi-stemmed appearance. Hornbeams can be single-trunked trees, or at times can grow with multiple trunks.
This slow-growing understory tree reaches a height of 20 to 30 feet. In spring, the tree has green or brown catkins (hanging clusters of tiny wind-pollinated flowers) that drape against its foliage. The hornbeam’s oval leaves have toothed edges, diagonal veins, and a pointed tip. In autumn, the leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and red before falling. The tree has winged seeds that dry up and drop off then as well. However, some of the withered leaves of a hornbeam may stay attached throughout the winter, decorating the otherwise empty branches on display.
The tree is an eastern American native species, growing naturally in wetlands along the banks of rivers and in bottomlands where water accumulates. Hornbeam trees can be found on sloping land, giving them a tolerance for well-drained soil that allows this species to deal with some drought. As an understory tree, the hornbeam does just as well in shade as it does in the sun. When planted in the shade, the tree will develop wide, wandering branches, while a hornbeam planted in full sun will grow a round, bushy crown (the tree’s form can add to its visual interest, so consider this when choosing a location for a new American hornbeam).
Names of the American Hornbeam
There are several names for the American hornbeam tree, all referring to its wood:
Hornbeam: “Horn” refers to the wood’s hardness and smooth bark, while “beam” is an Old English word for tree.
Musclewood: The tight, dense, and undulating appearance of the tree’s “muscled” wood is distinctive and makes it easy to identify.
Ironwood: The tree’s smooth, silvery hardwood is reminiscent of the forged metal.
Blue Beech: Its flat, non-peeling bark is similar to the American beech, while the bluish tone is characteristic of the hornbeam.
American Hornbeams in the Nashville Landscape
The American hornbeam is a hardy native tree that can do well on most properties. Able to be planted in shade or full sun, this understory tree can be easily integrated into a yard with tall trees or with wide open space. Adapted to bottomlands and well-draining soil, a hornbeam prefers moist ground but can tolerate some dryness. American hornbeams can be sensitive to very high pH soils that can occur in some places in Nashville, so it’s always a good idea to test your soil before planting.
These trees contribute many ecosystem services as they mature, from air filtration to native wildlife habitat. The small nutlet seeds of the American hornbeam provide autumn food for squirrels, rabbits, pheasants, and warblers, among other small wildlife. The tree’s greenery serves as important cover and nourishment for small animals, including insects like native caterpillars that become moths and butterflies (important pollinators and food sources for larger animals like birds and mammals).
Are American Hornbeam Trees Messy?
An American hornbeam isn’t especially messy in comparison to trees that produce berries, but it does have catkins that will drop off in the summer, in addition to its leaves and small seeds in the fall. If messiness is a concern, the tree might best be planted in the interior or an out-of-the-way area of a yard rather than along walkways and driveways.
Where to Buy an American Hornbeam Tree
Every hornbeam planted is a contribution to the atmosphere and productivity of the local ecosystem in many ways! The Nashville Tree Conservation Corps offers the American hornbeam among the trees available through our below-retail-cost tree sale.
Nashvillians can also donate a tree or help us plant and care for trees as a volunteer! NTCC also accepts and appreciates financial donations, which significantly contribute to our ability to fulfill our mission to promote, preserve, protect, and plant the tree canopy in the Nashville area. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter to get regular updates on Nashville’s canopy ecosystem, and check out our Linktree for more ways to connect!