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COMMON NAME: Musclewood, Blue Beech, Ironwood, American Hornbeam
BOTANICAL NAME: Carpinus caroliniana
USDA ZONE: 4-9
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun to Partial Shade
SOIL CONDITIONS: Moist well-drained
HABIT: Tree Form 15-25’ Tall and 15-25’
FEATURES:
· Smooth gray trunk
· Clean
· Wildlife Benefits
· Native
· Hardwood
· Can tolerate wet conditions
· Shade growing
WHY WE LOVE IT:
This small, slow-growing, understory tree has a distinctive smooth gray trunk of distinctive muscle-like fluting that looks like something fantastical as if out of Lord of the Rings or House of Dragons. Indeed, one can easily imagine that a small hobbit or elf might emerge as if living in a home in some of the fluted old trunks. Leaves are a clean and polished 4” length that turn yellow, orange, and red, and hold on through the winter, allowing the tree to be used as an interesting taller screen. The marcescent leaves are used by wildlife as a secure habitat in the winter. It does produce catkins like the birch and winged nutlets that birds like the grouse, turkey, and songbirds, and small mammals use in their diet. This hardwood is often under-utilized despite being able to grow in shade and having no serious insect or disease problems.
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