Types of Hornbeam – Hedge or Woodland

Choose a European hornbeam for a hedge or street, or American hornbeam for a moist woodland first.

Choose a European hornbeam for a hedge or street, or American hornbeam for a moist woodland

The first choice is the job. European hornbeam is the large hedge and street tree, 40 to 60 feet if you leave it unclipped. American hornbeam is the smaller native for moist shade, usually 20 to 30 feet, with smooth fluted bark that reads as musclewood on a winter trunk. [1] [2] If the tag only says hornbeam, look at whether you want a clipped screen or a woodland tree, then pick that kind. Upright shop names such as Fastigiata are still European hornbeam, not a third species. [3]

Browse by kind

Match the hedge-or-street job or the woodland job, then pick that kind. An American hornbeam will not fill a clipped European screen, and a European tree will not stay a 25-foot understory. An ironwood tag can also mean hop-hornbeam, which is Ostrya, not this genus — look for shredding bark and hop-like fruit before you buy. The European species is the more widely planted landscape tree; the American kind is the understory native. [4] Care for the tree you already have on How to Grow Hornbeam.

European hornbeam

European hornbeam is the large landscape tree, often sold as common hornbeam. Buy this group for a clipped hedge, a screen, or a street. Upright shop forms such as Fastigiata stay on this kind; they are not a third species. It is Carpinus betulus, not a beech.

American hornbeam

American hornbeam is the smaller native, also called musclewood, blue beech, or ironwood. Buy this group for a moist woodland, stream edge, or rain garden. The bark is smooth and fluted. It is Carpinus caroliniana, not hop-hornbeam.

If you want a clipped hedge, buy European hornbeam — American hornbeam is the woodland tree.