North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Betulaceae > Ostrya (hop-hornbeam)

American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Watauga Co., NC
27 July 2006

Finely serrate leaves. Fruits are nuts, enclosed individually by bracts and grouped in clusters.

American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Durham Co., NC
13 June 2008
American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Wake Co., NC
24 May 2009

American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Wake Co., NC
24 May 2009

Leaves and twigs are hairy, which distinguishes them from the similar but smooth leaves of Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana).

American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Wake Co., NC
24 May 2009

American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Wake Co., NC
24 May 2009

Young stems often look very similar to members of the genus Prunus (cherries and plums).

American Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Watauga Co., NC
27 July 2006

Bark looks like it's been used as a scratching post by cats. Wood is very hard and dense and is the basis for another common name for the tree: Ironwood.


Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on Aug 8, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com