Ostrya virginiana
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American Hophornbeam, Eastern Hophornbeam, Ironwood
Betulaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Tree | |
| Size: | 20-30 ft | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | NA | |
| Fruit Color: | Brown | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous. Yellow fall color. Blooms in spring (inconspicuous). Fruits ripen in summer. | |
| Noted for: | Interesting bark, Fall color, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Small specimen tree. Also good as an understory tree. While rarely grown, this plant is very worth of use in the landscape. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed. Occasionally available as a containerized plant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Part Shade, Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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: | Slightly acidic to neutral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Seeds are not popular with most birds, but it provides good cover. | |
| Insects: | ||
| Native Habitats: | Dry-mesic deciduous woods. Hammocks, bluff microsites. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | The wood is noted as being very strong, hence the common name "ironwood" Does not do well much south of its natural range. |