Carpinus caroliniana
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Musclewood, Hornbeam, Blue-beech
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: | Interesting bark, Fall color, Interesting foliage |
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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Part Shade, Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Stays Wet ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Birds and other wildlife eat the seeds but it is not a favorite. | |
| Insects: | 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 |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | Very hard wood. |