American Hornbeam
Growth Habit
TreePropagation
Seed Treatment and Storage: Store seeds dry then moist cold stratify for 30-60-90 days. Germinate at 70°F.
Biocultural Value
The Chippewa reserved musclewood for the main posts supporting the ridgepole in tents. Medicinally, the tree was typically used in the form of a bark chip infusion as an antidiarrheal, urinary aid, tuberculosis remedy, and skin wash.
Wildlife Value
An assortment of insects feed on American hornbeam foliage, wood, and sap, including the caterpillars of the eyed Baileya moth (Baileya ophthalmica), woodboring beetles (Agrilus spp.), plant bugs (Lygocoris spp.), an aphid (Macrosiphum carpinicolens), and several leafhoppers (Eratoneura direpta, E. triangulata, and Erythridula modica). American hornbeam nutlets are eaten by several kinds of birds and squirrels and are a preferred food source of the ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). Catkins, buds, twigs, and foliage are also consumed to a limited extent by browsers and gamebirds. Some bids use the tree as nesting habitat, either building among its branches (e.g. the wood thrush) or taking up residence in small cavities of older trees (e.g. chickadees).
Location
Bald Hill and Caroline Pinnacles, Edwards Lake Cliffs Preserve, Fall Creek Gorge, Fischer Old-growth Forest, McDaniel Meadow, Woods, and Swamp, Purvis Road Wetlands Natural Area, Polson Preserve, Ringwood Ponds, Steep Hollow Creek, Tarr-Young Preserve, Mundy Wildflower GardenCultivation
Description
Small, multi-stemmed bushy shrub or single-stemmed tree with a wide-spreading, flat or round-topped, often irregular crown; some plants are quite uniform. Plants 20' to 30' tall. Fall color variable, ranging from a good yellow to orange-red. Bark slate gray, smooth, irregularly fluted.
Source of plant
Edgewood Nursery, Bailey Nurseries, Klyn Nurseries, Princeton Nurseries, Schichtel's Nursery, Woodlanders Inc., Eastern Plant Specialists, Forestfarm Nursery, Arborvillage Farm Nursery, Daniel Otis, F. Robert Wesley, Ruth Nix
