Carpinus betulus: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe to Iran
Plant Profile: Carpinus betulus
Taxonomy: Carpinus betulusNames
European Hornbeam, Ironwood, Musclewood
Phonetic Spelling:kar-PINE-us BET-yoo-lus
Genus:Carpinus
Species:betulus
Family:Betulaceae
Characterized by its thick canopy, this tree features a sleek, gray bark and is commonly referred to as Ironwood because of its exceptionally tough wood. In the fall, it showcases a striking golden hue.
Ecological Benefits: Supports Wildlife
Seed Description: Nut encased in a bract
Carpinus betulus Feature Summary
Carpinus betulus Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#fall color
#shade tree
#wildlife plant
#playground
#children's garden
#edible seeds
#fantz
#food source fall
Similar Plants
Carpinus betulus is often confused with:
Carpinus betulus Feature Summary
Attributes
Europe to Iran
Small birds and mammals feed on the seeds in the fall.
Edible fruit
Wildlife Food Source
Shade
Flowers
Leaves
2.5-5 in. alternate, simple, sharply serrated leaf; yellow to yellowish-green fall color
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Gold/Yellow
Simple
Alternate
Serrate
3-6 inches
Bark
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Rounded
Pyramidal
Oval
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
Fruit
Stem
Landscape
Edible Garden
Children's Garden
Shade Tree
Recreational Play Area
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Carpinus betulus Image Gallery
Carpinus betulus Attributes
Carpinus betulus: Wildlife Value
Small birds and mammals feed on the seeds in the fall.
Carpinus betulus: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Carpinus betulus Flowers
Carpinus betulus: Flower Description
Male catkins; small nut
Carpinus betulus: Flower Color
Green
Carpinus betulus: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Carpinus betulus Leaves
Carpinus betulus: Leaf Description
2.5-5 in. alternate, simple, sharply serrated leaf; yellow to yellowish-green fall color
Carpinus betulus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Carpinus betulus: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Carpinus betulus: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Carpinus betulus: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Carpinus betulus: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Carpinus betulus: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Carpinus betulus: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Carpinus betulus: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Carpinus betulus Bark
Carpinus betulus: Bark Description
smooth, gray, bark
Carpinus betulus: Bark Color
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Carpinus betulus: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Carpinus betulus Whole Plant Traits
Carpinus betulus: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Carpinus betulus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Carpinus betulus: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Carpinus betulus: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Carpinus betulus: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Carpinus betulus Cultural Conditions
Carpinus betulus: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Carpinus betulus: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Carpinus betulus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Carpinus betulus Fruit
Carpinus betulus: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Carpinus betulus: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Carpinus betulus: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Carpinus betulus: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Carpinus betulus Stem
Carpinus betulus: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Carpinus betulus Landscape
Carpinus betulus: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Carpinus betulus: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Carpinus betulus: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Carpinus betulus: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
