FNPS Plant Database

Carpinus caroliniana

musclewood, hornbeam, blue-beech
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

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. Fruits ripen in summer.

Noted For:

Fall Color, Interesting Foliage, Interesting Bark

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:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□

Stays wet -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

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.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars

Larval plant for tiger swallowtail ( Papilio glaucus ), striped hairstreak ( Satyrium liparops ), and red-spotted purple or white admiral ( Limenitis arthemis ) butterflies.

Birds and other wildlife eat the seeds but it is not a favorite.

Native Habitats:

river floodplains

Natural Range in Florida:

Loading Florida counties…

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Very hard wood.

General Comments:

Citations:

Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala [Technical coordinators]. (1990). Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 654. ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/1548 ). Accessed 2025.


Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


University of Tennessee Extension Service. (2010). Desired pH Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants. ( https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/10/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf ). Accessed 2025. University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Request an update