Carpinus caroliniana
Ironwood
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Ironwood is a small deciduous tree, which grows well in shady areas. Its smooth, gray bark has vertical grooves, giving the appearance of rippling...
Description:
Ironwood is a small deciduous tree, which grows well in shady areas. Its smooth, gray bark has vertical grooves, giving the appearance of rippling muscles along the trunk. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same tree); white female and green male flowers bloom in early spring. The female flowers are followed by papery, winged nutlets. The dark-green leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. Ironwood is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops), and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis). It thrives in moist soils and tolerates periodic flooding. Use Ironwood as a shade tree, street tree, and understory tree in woodland gardens.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: American Hornbeam, Musclewood
Plant Type: Tree
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Spring
Bloom Colors: Green, White
Deer Resistance: High
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Butterflies, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Shade
Light Range: Partial Shade, Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Drought Tolerance: Low
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 20 - 30 ft
Spread: 20 - 30 ft
Growth Rate: Slow