FNPS Plant Database
Carpinus caroliniana
musclewood, hornbeam, blue-beech
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
musclewood, hornbeam, blue-beech
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Carpinus caroliniana
Family:
Betulaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
tree
Size:
to 30 ft tall by 15-25 ft wide
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
yellow
Fruit Color:
green, brown
Phenology:
deciduous; inconspicuous blooms in spring, with fruits ripening in summer
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Retain if in the landscape. Can be used as a specimen plant in areas not subject to root disturbance.
Considerations:
Said to be difficult to transplant as it does not tolerate root disturbance. Grows slowly.
Availability:
Propagation:
seed
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Stays Wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH:
acidic to neutral
Suitable to Grow In:
8A, 8B, 9A, 9B
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
Larval plant for tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), striped hairstreak (Satyrium liparops), and red-spotted purple or white admiral (Limenitis arthemis) butterflies.
Native Habitats:
River floodplains
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
Very hard wood.
General Comments:
Citations:
Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Koeser, A. K., G. Hasing, M. H. Friedman, and R. B. Irving. 2015. Trees: North and Central Florida. UF/IFAS Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology, Gainesville.
Nelson, Gil. 1994. The Trees of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide. Pineapple Press: Sarasota.
Nelson, Gil. 2003. Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
