Tree of Merit: Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
H
ophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is an
attractive small to medium tree with big urban
credentials. However, compared to other urban-
tough trees like red maple, ginkgo, and honeylocust,
hophornbeam has been regrettably underutilized.
Sometimes called "ironwood" like its bottomland
cousin, Carpinus caroliniana, hophornbeam's hard,
dense wood makes it highly resistant to damage
from wind, snow, and ice. Largely insensitive to
site conditions, it takes indignities like air pollution,
compacted soils, and droughty conditions in stride.
Hophornbeam grows well in full sun to part shade,
needs little pruning, and is generally free of insect
pests and diseases. An excellent street tree in warmer
climates, hophornbeam is intolerant of salt so should
be avoided where road salting is common.
Though transplanting can be tricky—hophornbeam
often appears on "fall hazard" lists—once estab-
lished, it requires very little care. Transplant difficulties
may be mitigated by root pruning in spring and by
digging later in the fall season after the tree is fully
dormant. A Cornell University study published by
Bassuk and Buckstrup in 2000 showed that in Ithaca,
New York, fall-planted hophornbeam B&B and bare
root trees were equally successful, while spring-plant-
ed hophornbeam trees were more successful when
planted B&B.
In the woods, hophornbeam is an understory tree that
grows on upland slopes. It is capable of reaching 60 ft
(18.3 m), but typical heights in cultivation are 25–40
ft (7.6–12.2 m). The tree is pyramidal to rounded in
profile, achieving a width generally 2/3 of height.
It has an extremely large natural range, extending
north to south from southern Manitoba to the Gulf
Coast and stretching east as far as Canada's Maritime
Provinces and the Atlantic Coast of the United States.
It is hardy for Zones 3–9, which encompasses most of
Story and photos by Cene Ketcham, Extension Arborist, Casey Trees
(left) Buds angle outward from the twig. Note the light
pubescence present on young tree parts.
(bottom left) The bud has six to eight scales and tiny
grooves running lengthwise. Behind this bud is hophorn-
beam's golden yellow fall color.
(bottom center) Older bark peels in long strips and wraps
around the tree.
(below) The catkins resemble bird feet and are present
through winter.
