Blue Beech

🌿 Carpinus caroliniana – American Hornbeam (Blue Beech, Musclewood)
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Soil: Moist, well-drained; tolerates clay and periodic flooding
Height: 6 – 10 m
Bloom: Spring (catkins)
Fall Colour: Orange, red, and yellow
 
Description:
Graceful yet strong, American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a small native tree admired for its smooth, sinewy trunk—earning it the nickname Musclewood.
Its layered canopy and finely serrated leaves bring four-season interest: lush green through summer, fiery color in fall, and elegant silver-gray bark in winter.
Perfect for shady edges, riparian zones, and small urban plantings, Hornbeam is a foundation species for forest understories—adaptable, slow-growing, and long-lived.
 
🌱 Ecological Benefits:
Supports over 30 species of native moths and butterflies, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Provides seed and shelter for songbirds and small mammals
Tolerant of flooding, making it ideal for riparian and floodplain restoration
Excellent understory tree for naturalized or woodland gardens
 
 
Hornbeam wood is so dense it was once used for tool handles, mallets, and wooden cogs—a natural testament to its quiet strength.
🌱 Planting to Protect. Restoring to Thrive.
🌿 Origin Native Plants – Guelph, Ontario
OriginNativePlants.com

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