FNPS Plant Database

Carpinus caroliniana

musclewood, hornbeam, blue-beech

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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

Coming Soon!

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.



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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:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Very hard wood.

General Comments:

Citations:

Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H.; [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 ). 



Huegel, Craig, N.  2010.  Native plant landscaping for Florida wildlife.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. (wildlife uses)



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



University of Tennessee Extension Service.  Desired Ph Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants.    https://extension.tennessee.edu/mtnpi/Documents/handouts/Fertility/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf   accessed 2021.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu /).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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