Ostrya virginiana
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Tried and True Recommended by 5 Professionals
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: eastern hop hornbeam
Type: Tree
Family: Betulaceae
Zone: 3 to 9
Native Range: Eastern North America, Mexico
Garden Location: Suzanne Stagg Wright Rock Garden
Height: 25 to 40 feet
Spread: 20 to 30 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Color: Brown, Green
Bloom Description: Red-brown (male); light green (female)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Flowers not Showy
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Drought, Deer
Uses: Shade Tree, Street Tree

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.

Noteworthy Characteristics

American hop hornbeam is a deciduous, Missouri native tree which usually occurs in dry soils on rocky slopes, upland woods and bluffs throughout the State. A small to medium-sized, understory tree with a generally rounded crown. Typically grows 25-40' tall with a slightly smaller spread. Features birch-like, oval to lance-shaped, sharply-serrated, dark yellowish-green leaves (to 5" long). Leaves turn an undistinguished yellow in autumn and often drop early. Flowers are monoecious (reddish-brown male flowers and greenish female flowers appear in separate catkins on the same tree). Flowers are not particularly showy, although the male catkins are more prominent and are present throughout winter. Female catkins are followed by drooping clusters of sac-like, seed-bearing pods which, as the common name suggests, somewhat resemble the fruit of hops. Also commonly called ironwood because of its extremely hard and dense wood.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Lawn tree, street tree or woodland garden.

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