FNPS Plant Database

Ostrya virginiana

American hophornbeam, eastern hophornbeam, ironwood
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

American hophornbeam, eastern hophornbeam, ironwood

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ostrya virginiana

Family:

Betulaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

20-30 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Yellow fall color. Blooms in spring (inconspicuous). Fruits ripen in summer.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Fall Color, Interesting Bark

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.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed. Occasionally available as a containerized plant.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

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:

Slightly 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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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Seeds are not popular with most birds, but it provides good cover.

Native Habitats:

Dry-mesic deciduous woods. Hammocks, bluff microsites.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

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.

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. 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 2026. 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.

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